Goose Creek school principal on leave after arrest

A Goose Creek school principal is on administrative leave pending an investigation of a criminal-domestic violence charge.

Clarence Leland Hawkins, 56, was arrested Dec. 30 at his former girlfriend’s apartment and charged with criminal domestic violence, according to an incident report from the Hanahan Police Department.

Hawkins is principal of Sedgefield Intermediate School in Goose Creek. He was placed on administrative leave Jan. 3, according to a statement from the Berkeley County School District.

According to the police report, Hawkins knocked on the door of his former girlfriend’s apartment around 3 a.m. Dec. 30 and said he wanted his watch back. She told him she didn’t have his watch and he pushed open the door, shoved her in the chest and walked inside. She started yelling for somebody to call the police and dialed 911 on her cell phone while Hawkins was pushing things around looking for his watch, according to the report.

Hawkins left the apartment before officers arrived. Police noted the contents of the woman’s purse scattered around the floor. The woman said her chest was sore from being shoved but that she didn’t require medical attention.

Police stopped Hawkins in his car and took him to the Berkeley County jail. He later was released.

Reach Dave Munday at 937-5553 or twitter.com/dmunday.