Two sub-contract workers were arrested on Aug. 16, after a physical altercation took place on a raised scissor lift in Odum Library.
Students and library staff watched as Michael J. Anderson and Caleb A. Hutchinson were taken away by Public Safety.
The police were called at 3:29 p.m. after staff members saw the fight escalating from a verbal to physical confrontation.
According to a report provided by the VSU Police Department, Michael Anderson, 39 and Hutchinson, 25, exchanged words after Anderson disapproved of the way Hutchinson was speaking to his son Brian Anderson, 18.
After Hutchinson told Michael Anderson to leave the area, he allegedly threw a pair of bolt cutters at Hutchinson, which instigated the physical confrontation. Police arrived shortly after to break up the fight.
Hutchinson declined to press charges against Michael Anderson, but he was issued a criminal trespassing warning for being on the VSU campus. Both Hutchinson and Anderson were permanently removed from the work site.
Staff members reacted quickly as the fight began to escalate.
“I looked up to see them and that’s when they got physical with each other on the raised scissor lift.” said a staff member. “I called Public Safety because I was thinking that a fall from there would be bad.”
The scissor lift in the library reaches from the first to the third floor in the library, helping the workers to work without being in the students’ way. The workers were from an Asbestos Maintenance company.
According to Public Safety Policies and Procedures, “Violence of any form is prohibited in the work place and will lead to severe disciplinary action to include termination of employment. Examples of non-acceptable behavior may include physical or verbal threats by an employee and disruption of work routines as the result of bizarre behavior, etc.”
Supervisors are also advised to deal with violence in a positive manner, such encouraging workers to seek assistance to help resolve the issue.
Workers from the Hutchinson Construction company wrapped up their Asbestos Maintenance last Sunday, but not before another unrelated verbal dispute occurred.
Odum Library Assistant 3 Bruce Bailey called Public Safety and the altercation was resolved.