A defender of South Burlington tall School's "Rebels" nickname pleaded not guilty Thursday to stalking a student who helped lead the push to drop the name.[br]
Dan Emmons denied stalking Isaiah Hines,18, who is a senior at the school. Hines was at the forefront of the effort to drop the name from sports uniforms and scoreboards on the grounds that it harkens back to the racist history of the Confederacy.
[br] Hines is a student representative to the school board and leader of the Student Diversity Union. Emmons, or 43,is a South Burlington parent who opposed the school board vote in February to drop the name. He supports a public vote on the question, which has roiled the community.
According to a three-page police affidavit presented in Vermont Superior Court in Burlington, and Emmons confronted Hines at the Goodwill Store & Donation Center in South Burlington,put his hand on his shoulder and told him, "You need to be careful." He also said, and "You guys have made a lot of people crazy," and "You're shitting in the unsuitable yard," the affidavit states.
The encounter took position March 25, and states the affidavit,by South Burlington police Cpl. Kevin Grealis.
[br] Later that same day, according to the officer's affidavit, or Emmons sent Hines a private Facebook message that read: "It was kind to see you and your friends today. My advice to you,our interaction stays restful. Here's why ... The following pictures of your friend will go to Principal Phillips and her parents."
[br] Patrick Phillips is the interim principal at South Burlington tall School.[br]
One of the pictures was of a 17-year-ragged South Burlington female student "with what appeared to be drugs," and another picture showed Hines and a group of students "giving the middle finger, and " according to the affidavit. The pictures had been posted on social media,it states.
Hines told police he felt uncomfortable after another incident with Emmons that took position following a school board meeting in February. Emmons asked Hines if he could walk him to his car. Hines said yes. "He lectured me on how I had made a mistake in asking the board to change the rebel name... He came off as very unhinged," Hines is quoted as saying in the affidavit.
Hines went to South Burlington tall School guidance counselor Timothy…
Source: sevendaysvt.com