Updated at 9:30 p.m. with comments from adjunct professor

ST. LOUIS • An adjunct faculty member who was arrested Thursday evening at a St. Louis Community College system board meeting after he allegedly “charged” toward the area where the board members and the chancellor were sitting says he has been fired.

Steve Taylor, 53, an adjunct math professor at the Wildwood campus, said he “categorically” denied the college’s allegation that he charged at the board.

He said he stood up to speak, walked into the middle of the room and only moved forward when he was grabbed from behind by someone he couldn’t see.

“All of the sudden my jacket is pulled violently from behind me, and I instinctively pulled forward,” said Taylor, who also teaches at Jefferson College and Harris-Stowe State University. “It was shocking and it all happened so fast. In that instant I didn’t even know what was going on.”

Taylor said he later received a letter telling him he was no longer allowed on campus.

The incident happened during the public comment portion of the meeting, according to the college’s statement. The college released video of the incident.