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A William Blount High School teacher will be returning Friday to his classroom after serving a 30-workday suspension stemming from an alleged road rage incident.

Dr. Jane Morton, complaint manager for Blount County Schools, conducted an investigation into the Oct. 5 incident in which Harold Gene Huffstetler, 51, Willa Way, Maryville, allegedly drew a pistol on what was originally reported to be school property.

Huffstetler serves as William Blount High School's construction technology teacher. He was suspended without pay -- effective Oct. 8 -- pending the outcome of the school system's investigation.

Charges of aggravated assault and possession of a weapon on school property filed against Huffstetler were dismissed on Oct. 28. Morton submitted the results of her own investigation to Blount County Director of Schools Rob Britt on Nov. 5.

Unprofessional conduct findings were substantiated as a result of Morton's investigation, the report said. She recommended a 30-workday suspension without pay.

Britt said he spent three days reviewing the Oct. 5 incident before he concluded Morton's recommendation was appropriate.

Huffstetler's last day on suspension is Thursday and will return to his classes on Friday.

According to the school system's investigative report, Huffstetler was traveling to William Blount High School on Oct. 5 to obtain tools so he could perform several repairs for a friend.

Students were on fall break from Oct. 5-9, but a volleyball game was being played in the school's gym on the afternoon of the incident, the school report said.

All participants agree the event occurred at or near the entrance to the road leading to the school stadium, but an exact location was not established, the school report said.

Charges dismissed

According to the original Blount County Sheriff's Office report, Charles Wayne Owens, 41, Camellia Trace Drive, Maryville, reported that he and his wife had been driving on U.S. 411 South and they "pulled out in front of Mr. Huffstetler's vehicle."

Owens alleged that Huffstetler "made some hand gestures to them" before pulling into William Blount High School. Huffstetler denies this allegation, the school report said. The Owenses allegedly drove past the school turnoff and soon thereafter turned around and drove back to the school entrance where Huffstetler was parked, the investigative report said.

Owens then alleged that Huffstetler approached his vehicle, which was being driven by his wife, and that he got out and "shoved (Huffstetler) away from the vehicle," the police report said.

At that point, Owens claimed Huffstetler "pulled a small pistol out of his pocket and pointed it at (him)." The pistol -- a Ruger LCP .380-caliber handgun -- was seized by deputies at the scene.

According to information from the Blount County District Attorney's Office at the time of the Oct. 28 preliminary hearing, Blount County General Sessions Court Judge Robert L. Headrick found it had not been adequately proven after testimony that Huffstetler was actually on school property when the incident took place; nor was there enough probable cause to take the aggravated assault charge to a grand jury.