Bennett Middle School teacher injured in assault

SALISBURY, Md. – A teacher at Bennett Middle School was injured in an assault involving a juvenile on Monday.

According to police, a deputy from the School Resource Division responded to a classroom in the school for a reported assault. It was determined that a 13-year-old student assaulted a classmate, at which time a teacher tried to stop the teen from assaulting the classmate. The teen then reportedly assaulted the teacher by grabbing her around the neck and strangling her, obstructing her breathing. The teen then hit another teacher when she tried to pull him off of the first teacher. The teen was eventually pulled off of the teacher.

The teacher who was assaulted was taken by EMS to TidalHealth for treatment of injuries.

The 13-year-old was taken to the Sheriff’s Office, and a juvenile referral was completed and forwarded to the Department of Juvenile Services. DJS then released the juvenile to his parent on electronic monitoring, pending his appearance in Juvenile Court.

Wicomico County Public Schools released the following statement on the incident Tuesday afternoon:

“We are extremely concerned and upset by what occurred in a Bennett Middle classroom. The safety of staff and students in our schools is paramount. All students and staff are entitled to a safe learning environment. No individual or group of individuals has the right to create unsafe conditions for others.

Investigations are being conducted by law enforcement and the school system. Pending the outcome of the investigation within the school system, disciplinary actions would be administered for any violations of the Student Code of Conduct. For an attack on staff, the Code of Conduct provides for disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from school.

We appreciate the hard work of our staff, administrators and law enforcement in responding to this incident.”