A Thursday incident at Millbrook Middle School resulted in the Friday arrest of a teacher.
Austin Dorberth, 27, of Millbrook turned himself into the Millbrook Police Department Friday after a parent of a 13-year-old student signed arrest warrants.
Millbrook police chief P.K. Johnson said his department became involved when a parent filed a complaint following an alleged altercation between Dorberth and a student.
“The parent stated that her son and a teacher had a verbal altercation,” Johnson said. “(Dorberth) approached the student and physically shoved him with enough force the student dropped his cell phone and came out of his shoes.”
The parent said the phone was damaged in the altercation.
After the parent filed a report and agreed to prosecute, the Millbrook Municipal Court Magistrate issued warrants for Dorberth for harassment and third-degree criminal mischief.
According to court documents, the student wrote a statement. He said he was horseplaying with another student during athletics.
“I had to do up downs,” the student wrote. “Then I got more added for talking back.”
The student said Dorberth told him to leave and another coach told him to wait. But Dorberth wanted him to still go.
“(Dorberth) got up and charged at me and threw my phone down,” the student wrote. “Coach Dorberth grabbed me and pushed me.”
The student said Dorberth “yanked him again” and threw his phone and shoe at him.
Johnson said a video of the incident did circulate social media.
“The images depicted are obviously disturbing,” Johnson said.
Elmore County Schools superintendent Richard Dennis said he was aware of the matter and couldn’t really comment. He did issue a statement Friday afternoon.
“The Elmore County Board of Education is aware of the video circulating on social media and we are investigating the matter currently,” Dennis said in the statement. “The employee in the video is not working on the campus of our school and has not been there since (Thursday). This is a personnel matter; therefore, we are unable to comment further.”Â
Johnson said Dorberth has posted bond and the case will proceed in Millbrook Municipal Court.
