A high school teacher in South Carolina was arrested after his “horseplay” with a teenage student got out of hand.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department said that Marlin Roberts was arrested on Wednesday, November 4, and has been charged with third-degree assault, according to WIS.
The incident took place on Wednesday at Spring Valley High School in Columbia, South Carolina. Authorities became aware of the incident when a school resource officer was notified that Roberts, 29, and a 15-year-old student had allegedly gotten into an altercation around 11 a.m.
The sheriff’s department said that they learned Roberts “began to horseplay” with the student. As the two joked around, the student allegedly “jokingly attempted a karate-style kick” at Roberts. However, the student apparently lost their balance and fell to the floor.
Roberts then allegedly grabbed the student by the foot and dragged them across the classroom floor, which caused the student to sustain a scrape. It’s not currently clear if the student sustained any other injuries or how long they were dragged for.
Following the incident, the student and their parents reported what had happened to the school.
Authorities said Roberts was detained and he admitted to assaulting the student while speaking to detectives. Roberts was then taken into custody to Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. Online records viewed by Us indicate that he is still in custody as of time of publication.
Following Roberts’ arrest, Richland School District Two sent a letter to the parents of Spring Valley High School students. He also confirmed that Roberts had been let go from the school in light of the incident.
“I want to make you aware of an incident involving a former employee today that resulted in an arrest. While we cannot share additional details due to the privacy of those involved, please know that we are taking this matter seriously, following district policy, and working with the appropriate district personnel,” Principal Dr. Paul T. Dobyns wrote in the letter, which was obtained by WIS. “We remain committed to ensuring that our school is a safe and supportive environment for all students.”
It’s not currently clear if Roberts has entered a plea or retained legal counsel following his arrest. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department did not immediately respond to Us’ request for comment regarding updates in the case.
The investigation into the case remains ongoing.
