SECURITY GUARD DENIES BATTERING PRINCIPAL.

Byline: Daily News

LANCASTER -- A Quartz Hill High School security officer accused of assaulting the principal pleaded not guilty Thursday to felony battery on a school employee.

Andrew Santos, 42, surrendered to authorities Tuesday after he was accused of punching and kneeing Quartz Hill Principal Mark Bryant. Santos remained in custody in lieu of $20,000 bail.

Bryant was taken to a local hospital where he was treated for multiple injuries, including a broken nose and jaw and a possible dislocated shoulder.

The incident occurred when Bryant called Santos to his office to issue a written reprimand for a minor administrative violation, sheriff's deputies said.