Teacher facing assault charge after alleged altercation with Cole Harbour High student (update)
Posted Nov 13, 2018 04:24:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
With files from Canadian Press
A teacher at Cole Harbour District High has been arrested after an altercation at the school on Oct. 3.
RCMP Cpl. Jennifer Clarke says when a staff member removed earbuds from a 15-year-old boy’s ears, the teen retaliated by taking the man’s lanyard that was attached to keys in his pants pocket.
“The man then pushed the youth into a wall, and put him down on the floor,” Clarke said.
The boy reported the incident to the school’s administration and was checked over by EHS. He wasn’t hurt.
Clarke said the man has been placed on leave “to ensure he did not have any access to the victim at the school … to give the victim some protection.”
The Halifax Regional Centre for Education has confirmed the man is a teacher at Cole Harbour High and the teen is a student at the school.
“While no charges have been sworn at this time, the teacher is currently on unpaid leave and has voluntarily surrendered their teaching license,” the centre said in an emailed statement.
They have launched their own investigation independent of police.
“The HRCE takes any matter potentially impacting the safety and security of our students very seriously,” it said, adding they would not be commenting further on the matter.
Police say a video has been circulating of part of the incident.
The 42-year-old Dartmouth man has been arrested for assault and mischief stemming from alleged damage to the earbuds.
“He is facing charges,” said Clarke.
He’s been released on conditions and is scheduled to appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court on Dec. 12.
