Teacher accused of tightening belt around 13-year-old's neck

GALVESTON - A 13-year-old student has accused a band teacher at a La Marque middle school of placing a belt around his neck and tightening it, leaving visible marks on the boy.

An arrest warrant was issued for Carl Dickey on Friday, The Galveston County Daily News reported Tuesday. The warrant accuses Mr. Dickey of assault causing bodily injury, a misdemeanor charge.

A spokeswoman for the La Marque Police Department said that Mr. Dickey had not been arrested and that it would be up to the school district's police to pursue the warrant. District offices were closed for the holidays Tuesday.

School district Police Chief Russell Washington could not be reached for comment.

Mr. Dickey, who has been placed on paid administrative leave, also had not turned himself in at the Galveston County Jail since the warrant was issued last week, said Joseph Dowlearn, who works for the Sheriff's Department.

Sylvia Turrubiate told police Thursday that the teacher had tightened a belt around her son Jesse's neck a day earlier.

The mother said her son was told by Mr. Dickey to sit down after he entered a band classroom that was filled beyond capacity.

Ms. Turrubiate said she was told that when the teacher repeated the request, her son again did not comply and made a face.

"Mr. Dickey had his belt in his hand, so when my son didn't sit down, he put the belt around my son's neck," the mother said. "He left marks from one side to the other."

When the teacher left the room, Jesse and another student told administrators about the incident, the mother said.

La Marque Independent School District spokeswoman Melissa Tortorici told the newspaper that the district was investigating the allegation. "We've taken appropriate administrative action," she said.

Mr. Dickey, who has worked at the school for two years, hasn't received any similar complaints during his employment, Ms. Tortorici said.

La Marque Superintendent Adrian Johnson said he plans to review investigation reports and any criminal reports about the incident before taking any action. School won't be back in session until Jan. 6.

"We have a different level of burden than the criminal justice system," he said.

Ms. Turrubiate contends the district should have acted more swiftly and harshly.

"If it was the other way around - if my son had done that to him - they would have had him in juvenile hall that day. That's what makes me really mad. That doesn't make sense at all."

An arrest warrant was issued for Carl Dickey on Friday, The Galveston County Daily News reported Tuesday. The warrant accuses Mr. Dickey of assault causing bodily injury, a misdemeanor charge.

Here is that one.....

http://www.galvnews.com/archive.lasso?WCD=6774

GALVESTON COUNTY DAILY NEWS
Texas' Oldest Newspaper
http://www.galvnews.com

Band teacher charged with assaulting student

By Ted Streuli
The Daily News

Published December 24, 2002

LA MARQUE — A band teacher at La Marque Middle School has been charged with tightening a belt around a 13-year-old student’s neck.

Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Sonny James issued an arrest warrant for Carl Dickey on Friday at the request of La Marque Independent School District police.

Dickey was charged with assault causing bodily injury, a class A misdemeanor.

Dickey, who is on paid administrative leave, could not be reached for comment Monday.

Sylvia Turrubiate contacted police Thursday after learning the day before that Dickey tightened a belt around her son Jesse’s neck. Turrubiate said she was called to the school Wednesday afternoon where she met with Dickey and school officials.

Turrubiate said her 13-year-old son entered a band classroom that was filled beyond capacity because two classes were combined. She said Dickey told her son to sit down, and that Jesse responded that there were no available seats.

Turrubiate was told that the request was repeated and that her son again said he could not comply, accompanied by a contemptuous facial expression.

“Mr. Dickey had his belt in his hand, so when my son didn’t sit down, he put the belt around my son’s neck,” said Turrubiate. “He left marks from one side to the other.”

Turrubiate said her son also felt numb, possibly from restricted oxygen flow.

Dickey then left the room, and Jesse and a fellow student reported the incident to administrators, Turrubiate said.

La Marque Independent School District spokesperson Melissa Tortorici said Dickey was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

“We’ve taken appropriate administrative action,” she said.

Tortorici said Dickey was hired about two years ago and that she was unaware of any similar incidents during his employment.

La Marque Superintendent Adrain Johnson said he would review campus and central administrative reports on the incident before deciding what action to take. He said the criminal proceeding could have some affect on that decision.

“It’s something I would look at,” said Johnson. “It could have an indirect effect on it, but we have a different level of burden than the criminal justice system.”

Johnson said the reports would probably be ready for review when school is back in session Jan. 6.

“We’ll do whatever it takes and we’ll be fair,” Johnson said.

Turrubiate said she met with Dickey and his mother at the teacher’s request, but despite the pair’s request to circumvent criminal charges, Turrubiate said she didn’t think suspension was sufficient to redress the problem.

“I don’t think he should teach anymore,” she said. “He put it around his neck. My son could have passed out or worse. He should go to jail.”

Turrubiate said her son had never been suspended or had any ongoing disciplinary problems. She said her son studied trumpet with Dickey last year without incident.

“There have never been any problems with Mr. Dickey or anyone else,” she said. “If it was the other way around — if my son had done that to him — they would have had him in juvenile hall that day. That’s what makes me really mad. That doesn’t make sense at all.”

District Police Chief Russell Washington asked The Daily News to call at a specific time Monday to discuss the case, but did not answer the call.

Turrubiate said she would consult an attorney regarding possible civil litigation.

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