HOULTON — A quick-thinking teacher stepped between a student who was allegedly wielding a knife at another student at Houlton High School on Tuesday afternoon.

Houlton Police Chief Butch Asselin said the incident took place at 12:42 p.m. in social studies teacher Timothy Tweedie’s classroom. A male and female student, both 15 years old, got into a verbal altercation that escalated. The female student took a tactical-type knife with a six-inch blade out of her book bag, which she had by her desk. She allegedly charged towards the male student. Tweedie observed what was taking place and quickly intervened by stepping between the two students. Tweedie wrestled with the girl for control of the knife as she was trying to stab him and get free. With the assistance of another teacher, the girl was subdued and the knife taken from her possession.

Tweedie suffered bite marks, but was otherwise unharmed. The students were not injured.

The school was not placed on lockdown but parents were notified and students were secured in their classrooms. The girl was taken to a local hospital for an evaluation.

The matter is still under investigation.

Officers Thereon Bickford and Stewart Kennedy responded to the scene.