JONESBORO, Ark. – A teacher is alleging a student lost his cool and threatened to punch her – and he now faces a felony charge of terroristic threatening at a school.
The alleged incident was reported to have taken place at about 4:23 p.m. on Sept. 27. Jonesboro Police Department were notified by a teacher at Annie Camp Junior High School regarding a 12-year-old who had been in a verbal altercation with a teacher at the end of the day.
The teacher said earlier that afternoon, she was standing outside of her classroom as the children were being released from school. At the time, she heard a group talking and one saying he wanted to fight another student. She yelled at them to all go home but the 12-year-old suspect began back talking her.
Facing discipline, the student was told to stand by the door but the report says he refused. The teacher grabbed him by the arm and he jerked away, possibly scratching himself in the process. The teacher followed the student and told him to leave the building and go home, the report says.
Suddenly, the teacher said the 12-year-old turned around in an “aggressive stance” and said he was “going to punch her.”
The teacher replied, “Oh really?”
“If you make me mad enough, I will punch you in the face,” the report says, according to the teacher.
The teacher decided then they both needed to go see an officer but the rebellious youth was having no part of it. With most of the office faculty outside assisting students in their daily departure, the teacher could not get anyone to answer the call button to the office.
The report says the incident concluded with the school counselor calming the boy down.
Police spoke with the teacher on Sept. 28 and at the time, she said she did not wish to pursue charges. However, on Tuesday, Oct. 25, she contacted JPD by email and filed the report Wednesday morning at 7:50 a.m.
The student could face felony first-degree terroristic threatening, the report indicated.
The teacher mistake was “she reached out and grabbed the student by the arm.” The student was being disresptful but it’s better to keep hands off. Secondly, why wait almost a month to file charges?
thank you teachers think its ok to touch a student. kids are minature adults and adults dont like being touched either. im sure this article described her action less aggressive than it was. Either way the teacher was out of pocket