MEMPHIS, Tenn. — After parents got physical at a high school this week, many in the community were discouraged about parenting supports in Memphis.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office confirmed two families met with the principal Tuesday to discuss a fight between two girls on campus that stemmed from a disagreement in their neighborhood.
Marsheka Benton, 28, got angry and reportedly attacked a school resource officer. Others jumped in.
During the scuffle, a juvenile reportedly tried to grab the officer’s service weapon.
Officials arrested Benton, Latrisha Readus and two female juveniles.
WREG asked a SCSO spokesperson whether the parents were referred to the parenting centers. He said he did not know.
Shelby County Schools said it often recommends services to parents, but in this case, the situation is in authorities’ hands.
Parents in the community were still digesting the news Wednesday.
“Parents supposed to be, we’re supposed to be the mediators,” Benton’s neighbor Melvin Macklan said.
Macklan said he would never let his kids see him lose control.
WREG asked him if he thinks parents know there is free help at the city’s two parenting centers that opened this spring.
“No, because I didn’t even know about the parenting centers,” he said.
There are two locations of the Universal Parenting Place; one is at Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women on Humphreys Boulevard, and the other is at Knowledge Quest on College Park Drive.
The centers remain open to help moms and dads work on any element of parenting.
The centers were not available Wednesday to meet with WREG about the referral process or the effect of kids witnessing parents who act violently.
Both adults are due in court Thursday.