A former substitute teacher in Connecticut was arrested for his alleged inappropriate conduct with high school students.
Rawad Muhammad Al-Hawari has been accused of engaging in conversations with students that involved sexual topics, drug use and other inappropriate subject matters in his classroom while working at East Haven High School, according to NBC Connecticut.
An investigation into allegations against Al-Hawari, 26, was launched in March, and he turned himself in to East Haven police two months later on Friday, May 29, after an arrest warrant was issued for him. He has been charged with two counts of risk of injury to a child and disorderly conduct.
The investigation officially began on March 24 after a student reported that Al-Hawari discussed sexual topics, drug use, the private lives of school staff members and personal relationships during class, according to an arrest warrant viewed by the outlet.
The student who reported Al-Hawari also claimed that he even made inappropriate comments about her mother.
Nicole Burrell, the East Haven Police Department school resource officer, investigated the student’s claims and spoke to multiple students and staff about the allegations. In light of the allegations, Al-Hawari was immediately removed from the classroom.
Multiple students reported that they heard Al-Hawari having conversations about sex and drugs, with several of them calling the conversations inappropriate. Meanwhile, some students told investigators that they believed Al-Hawari appeared to be flirting with students.
A teacher, who works in a classroom across the hall, reported hearing loud and vulgar conversations from Al-Hawari’s classroom, and they later raised concerns with administrators.
Al-Hawari denied making inappropriate sexual comments to students, though he did admit to discussing other staff members and aspects of his personal life with his students, according to the arrest warrant.
“We do not believe there are any more victims related to this investigation but we are always open to talking to anyone who has further information to provide or who have had similar encounters with him,” East Haven Police Department Captain Joseph M. Murgo said, per the outlet.
After he turned himself in, Al-Hawari was released on a $10,000 bond. He is next scheduled to appear in court on Friday, June 5, regarding the charges.
It is not currently clear if Al-Hawari has entered a plea or retained legal counsel. The East Haven Police Department did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment.
It is unlikely that police will share many updates in the case with the public because children were involved.
