Boy, 11, referred to prosecutor’s office after assault of classroom teacher, police say

An 11-year-old Centralia boy allegedly grabbed a teacher by the neck and punched her, and fourth-degree assault charges are now being considered by the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office, according to Centralia police.

Police were dispatched to Washington Elementary School in Centralia about 3:50 p.m. Monday. The woman who was allegedly assaulted was either the teacher, or teacher’s aide, Sgt. Buddy Croy said Tuesday.

Croy said this is not the first time this kind of incident has happened at the school. Often, teachers will handle such matters internally, but in this case it was reported to police, he said.

The Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office will decide whether charges are pursued, Croy said.

“It’s totally up to them,” he said.

This story was originally published October 16, 2018 at 11:55 AM.