Staff report

A student at East Rowan High School is accused of striking a school employee in the hallway Tuesday.

According to an arrest report at the Rowan County Magistrate’s Office, Amber Hancock, 16, of 120 Stonefield Lane, Salisbury, is charged with assault on a school employee after hitting Joe Gala. Law enforcement officials said Gala is an administrator at East Rowan.

According to the report, Gala was escorting Hancock to the school office for discipline after she’d been involved in a hallway fight with another student. En route to the office, Hancock struck Gala.

Hancock is also charged with simple assault, accused of striking Kisha Plyer, another student, “about the face and upper body with a closed fist and punching her.”

Hancock was released to the custody of her mother, Dawn Hancock, after signing a written promise to appear in court. Her court date is Jan. 17, 2007.