MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa — A Marshalltown middle school teacher is charged with assault after allegedly slapping a student, police said in a press release.
60-year-old Paul Philip Miller of Boone is charged with assault causing bodily injury, a serious misdemeanor.
The arrest comes after a 13-year-old male student at Miller Middle School alleged Miller assaulted him while in class on Monday, Feb. 12. Police launched an investigation into the claim on Tuesday, Feb. 13.
According to a criminal complaint filed against Miller, the student was sitting at his desk when he moved the desk. Miller became upset and "forcefully shoved the desk against the victim's stomach, pinning the victim against the wall with the desk".
Miller allegedly applied pressure on the desk, trapping the student for up to a minute. When the student managed to get out from behind the desk, Miller slapped him in the face, according to the complaint.
"The victim complained of pain to his face, had minor redness to his left cheek, and has suffered from emotional distress following the assault," the criminal complaint reads in part.
Miller allegedly admitted to school administrators that he assaulted the student. He was taken into custody on Saturday and transported to Marshall County Jail.
He has since been released after posting bond.
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