UMass Dartmouth Professor Charged With Assault, Banned From Campus
DARTMOUTH — An associate professor at UMass Dartmouth's Charlton College of Business is facing assault charges and is now banned from campus after allegedly fighting another university staffer at the college.
The alleged victim is another faculty member in the same department, according to a police report filed in New Bedford District Court.
Court documents state that 44-year-old Dr. Liang Song of New Bedford has been arrested in connection to an incident on Monday, Dec. 12 in which police were dispatched for a reported assault.
According to the police report, the alleged victim told responding officers that Dr. Song entered his office at around noon on Dec. 12, then pushed and punched him before allegedly trying to stab him with a small knife.
Officers wrote in the report that the alleged victim told them he was not injured and said the knife did not go through his clothing.
Dr. Song then allegedly threatened the victim's family before taking what the report calls an "Apple" and leaving the office. It is unclear if he is accused of taking a fruit or an electronic device.
The associate professor was placed on administrative leave before being arrested, according to the report.
He faces two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and one count of assault as well as threats to commit a crime.
An email sent Monday to students and staff on behalf of UMass Dartmouth Police Deputy Chief John Souza and provided to WBSM noted that as of 5 p.m. Monday, Dr. Song is not allowed on campus "until further notice."
"Anyone seeing Dr. Song on or near...campus should contact University Police immediately," the email continues, adding that the measures are being taken "out of an abundance of caution."
"At this time, it is believed that this was an isolated incident between two individuals known to one another," Souza concluded in the email.
University spokesman Ryan Merrill declined to comment on the issue but stated that it is a personnel matter.
Dr. Song is listed on the university website as being an associate professor of accounting and finance at the business college.
His next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 25, 2023.