10-year-old punches Cape teacher

A 10-year-old boy with a history of behavior issues was cited into juvenile court following an outburst where he punched his teacher in the jaw.

The boy became disruptive in his Alma Schrader Elementary School classroom last week and struck the teacher in the leg, Cape Girardeau police Sgt. Barry Hovis said Wednesday. After being moved across the room near an air conditioner "to cool off and calm down," the child began throwing things, Hovis said.

"The teacher told him he could not make these bad choices," Hovis said. "He then punched her in the face."

After the boy was taken to the principal's office, principal Ruthann Orr called the school resource officer, a Cape Girardeau police officer assigned to the public schools.

The boy was released to his parents, Hovis said, and a report was sent to juvenile authorities because of the assault on the teacher.

Behaving in class is a problem for the boy, Hovis said. "He is prone to outbursts, and he has been disruptive in the past."

The incident took place May 8, but was not included in the regular report of incidents issued by the Cape Girardeau Police Department until Wednesday because of delays in reports from the school resource officer, police spokesman Cpl. Jason Selzer said.

Orr declined to release any information about the incident or whether the boy has been returned to class or placed in an alternative setting. She referred all questions to Dr. Richard Scala, superintendent of the Cape Girardeau School District.

Scala did not return a message left at administrative offices.

rkeller@semissourian.com

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