LCSO finds no evidence that Bronson student was struck by substitute teacher
On January 29, a School Resource Deputy (SRD) with the Levy County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) met with the father of a Bronson Middle/High School student who was there to file a complaint that a substitute teacher had punched his child during class that day.
According to Lt. Scott Tummond, who heads the LSCO Professional Standards Division and is the Public Records Custodian, "School Resource Deputies are responsible for the security of each school they are assigned to and also responsible for the investigation of most incidents that occur on school property while school is in session."
On Jan. 29, the primary teacher was absent from class and had left his class a work assignment that was written on the chalk board. Students told the SRD that they believed the class was a free period, and they were not focused on work. Instead, they were milling about the class room, socializing.
The SRD learned that the student who claimed that the substitute teacher had struck him was seated next to the teacher’s desk, and had taken a pen from the teacher, that the teacher was using to mark class attandance, and played a game of 'keep away' with it. The teacher gave the student several commands to return the pen, and eventually grabbed for the pen while the student was grasping it in his hand. The student was not injured, and there was no physical evidence to indicate that he had been struck, as claimed by the parent.
The SRD's investigation into the incident included an interview of every student who was in the class at the time the alleged incident occurred, along with interviews of teachers, staff members and students in other classes this child attends. As a result of this investigation, the SRD was unable to establish that the substitute teacher had battered the student.
"In order to establish a battery did occur, the investigating deputy must identify the intentional act of striking someone against that persons will, and collect any evidence of the crime," said Lt. Tummond. "No physical evidence was found, and when compared to the multitude of contradictory statements that were taken, no charges will be filed in this case by the State Attorney’s Office."