Investigations by Mill Creek Police and the Everett School District into allegations that a Heatherwood Middle School teacher assaulted a student are continuing but have run into some difficulties.
Tom Bruski, the department’s school police officer, has received conflicting stories from the victim and witnesses about what occurred in a school hallway on March 9, according to department spokeswoman Becky Erk.
Also, Bruski has not been able to interview the teacher after the teacher’s attorney has advised against talking to police about the incident.
In addition, the Everett School District, which is conducting its own investigation, has told Mill Creek Police that it will not provide any information unless the department subpoenas it, Erk said.
According to district spokesperson Gay Campbell, the district cannot release information regarding the student unless subpoenaed because of student confidentiality.
“We cooperate with the police in any way we can,” Campbell said. “It’s not that we’re trying to be difficult.”
Campbell added that the district is continuing its own investigation, but the process has been slowed because the school’s resource officer has been out sick for several days.
Erk said police still plan to forward the information they have to the city’s contracted criminal prosecutor, Lorrie Towers. Towers will determine whether or not to subpoena school district information on the incident, or to interview the teacher, both of which must be approved by a Snohomish County South District Court judge. Towers could also decide to file criminal charges. A decision could come as early as today, Friday, April 2.
Erk said the student didn’t show any injuries or turn in photos of any injuries after reporting being thrown against a locker.
The teacher and student are both still at the school, Campbell said.
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