GIBRALTAR, Mich. – It was a game of ding-dong ditch in a Gibraltar waterfront neighborhood that ended in an unexpected way.
In May, police say a group of kids knocked on their teacher's door and ran away. The kids did it twice. The second time is when the Shumate Middle School teacher, Steven Falwell, caught up with one of the 12-year-old boys and allegedly roughed him up.
The boy's mother filed a police report accusing Falwell of assault. Police wouldn't specify how the boy was allegedly assaulted but said he did not need medical attention.
Initially, Falwell pleaded not guilty to assault and battery charges. However, court records show that the charges have been amended to disturbing the peace.
Falwell pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 12 months of probation on Wednesday. He also is required to attend anger management counseling.
After the alleged assault, Gibraltar School District Superintendent Amy Conway released this statement:
The Gibraltar School District received information from the Gibraltar Police Department that an incident occurred between a Shumate Middle School staff member and a student off school property, outside of school hours. When the district was informed of these allegations, the staff member was immediately placed on administrative leave."