New Details Emerge in Alleged Teacher Assault Case at Irmo Middle School
IRMO, S.C. – In a startling development, details have surfaced regarding the arrest of Jermaine Cornelius Singletary, a 51-year-old teacher at Irmo Middle School, who is facing charges following two separate incidents involving students. Singletary turned himself in to Lexington County deputies on Wednesday, and is now charged with two counts of third-degree assault.
March Incident Raises Concerns
The first reported incident occurred back in March. According to an official incident report, Singletary alleges that a student approached him from behind, playfully squeezing and rubbing his head. In response, as he turned around, he swung his arm and unintentionally hit the student. Singletary maintains that he instantly apologized, stating the student “shouldn’t be rubbing his head or touching him period.” However, the allegations didn’t stop there.
As outlined in the arrest warrants, it was claimed that Singletary struck the student in the chest, causing injury. A week or two later, Singletary reportedly made a comment to the classroom, saying, “Of course, you’ll get smacked trying that again. Anyone risks the chance of getting smacked when doing something like that.” This comment has raised eyebrows, especially considering the earlier incident. The same student who was allegedly struck later voiced his feelings in class, asserting, “you shouldn’t have hit me, and I’ll grab your head again.” In response, Singletary was quoted saying that the student would get smacked if he tried such behavior again.
October Incident Adds to the Controversy
The second incident took place in October, pushing the concerns surrounding Singletary’s conduct even further. This time, Singletary allegedly struck another student who was in the process of retrieving their project from the trash. Singletary claims he instructed the group of students that they could take their projects home, but they couldn’t leave pieces scattered throughout the school. He reiterated that safety was a priority.
When a group broke apart their project, Singletary took swift action, insisting that the dismantled pieces be put back in the trash. However, according to his statement, when a particular student continued to ignore his demands, he proceeded to strike the student twice on the shoulder with an open hand.
School Response and Community Reaction
Remarkably, it appears that Singletary did not inform school administrators about either incident at the time they occurred. Following his arrest, the Lexington-Richland School District 5 issued a statement indicating they are “cooperating fully with law enforcement in their investigation.” The school has placed Singletary on administrative leave as the situation unfolds.
The district further alerted that, due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, all inquiries should be directed towards the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. This news has certainly stirred conversations among parents, educators, and students alike, raising questions about the appropriate responses to student interactions and teacher conduct within schools.
Next Steps in the Investigation
As the investigation continues, the community remains on alert, hoping for a resolution that ensures the safety and well-being of all students at Irmo Middle School. The unfolding situation serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining professionalism and the proper handling of student-teacher interactions in schools.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops. With a community that prides itself on education and student development, the hope is that such incidents can be addressed constructively to prevent them from recurring in the future.
