Police have arrested a substitute teacher for allegedly injuring a child at Rose Garden Elementary.
SCHERTZ, Texas — A substitute teacher was taken into custody in Schertz after allegedly injuring a young child at the school he was working at.
Around 12:30 p.m., officers with the Schertz Police Department responded to Rose Garden Elementary School after receiving reports of a child who had been injured. Authorities identified the suspect as 74-year-old Richard Bucciarelli.
He was arrested, booked into the Bexar County Jail and faces a felony charge of injury to a child.
“We appreciate the collaborative working relationship we continue to have with SCUC ISD school administrators,” Schertz Police Chief Jim Lowery is quoted as saying in a release. “It is unfortunate this incident occurred, but we are working diligently to ensure the suspect is held accountable for his actions. We hope the family and other students clearly understand the depth of support they have from the Police Department and School District.”
Police said Bucciarelli was contracted as a sub for Schertz-Cibolo-University City ISD through a third-party company.
In a letter to parents, SCUCISD officials said he was “immediately removed from his post” and isolated from the school’s students.
“The campus School Resource Officer (SRO) did not permit the substitute to leave campus while the investigation was underway,” administrators said in the letter. “Please know this individual will not be returning to SCUC ISD in any capacity. This conduct is unacceptable and concerning. The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority, and we will continue to cooperate fully with the Schertz Police Department as it moves forward with the investigation.”
Officials didn’t provide further information about the nature or extent of the victim’s injuries.