A probable cause affidavit filed by Cameron Police Lt. Kris Stringer in Justice of the Peace Don Ahrendt’s court in Cameron said at about 2:30 p.m. Oct. 28 the student “was actively arguing” with teacher Richard Johnson about a school violation that involved a student using an iPod in class.
The affidavit said the student began to argue with Johnson, and that Mrs. Woods was standing in the door way to the classroom when the student, a 5-feet, 8-inch tall and 176-pound Yoe football player, pushed Mrs. Woods with his body causing her to collide with a door frame. Johnson and another teacher, Tammy Benton, witnessed the assault, Stringer stated in the affidavit.
Stringer said he “observed no bruising or marks on Mrs. Woods,” but the principal stated that she is going to seek medical attention for the injury to her arm. Mrs. Woods declined to comment on the incident. The student could not be reached for comment.
Stringer arrested the student after school on Wednesday on a warrant issued by Ahrendt charging assault with bodily injury, a Class A misdemeanor. He was released from the county jail after posting a $2,500 bond.
In the court document, Stringer said he received two written statements. One was from the student, who “stated that the incident was an accident that he bumped into Mrs. Woods” and that he had asked the principal to excuse him “before he bumped her.”
The other was from the student’s mother, who said she thought the principal was not going to file charges on the student.
Superintendent Rodney Fausett declined to comment on the case, saying “this is involving student discipline and personnel matters, therefore, it is confidential. We are still investigating the matter and we are committed to the safety and security of our students and staff.”
The school district’s Code of Conduct for Student Discipline provides for a student involved in specific offenses to be placed in a Discipline Assessment Program for a maximum of 30 days, Fausett said.
