Teen Arrested After Teacher Is Punched

A Ventura High School student was arrested on suspicion of punching a special education teacher during a fight on campus Wednesday morning, police said.

The 15-year-old boy, who is described as a gang member, fled after the 11:30 a.m. incident but was found about 4 p.m. near his home in the 6400 block of Whippoorwill Street in east Ventura, officers said.

The boy was booked into juvenile hall on suspicion of battery in connection with the attack on teacher Mark Tokar, a 12-year district employee.

Tokar was treated at Community Memorial Hospital, Officer Monty Pulido said.

Principal Larry Emrich said Tokar will return to work Friday. The boy has been suspended from school pending an expulsion hearing, Emrich said.

“If any student assaults a public school employee we recommend expulsion,” Emrich said. “He won’t be back at school.”

Tokar, a Ventura resident, suffered a break to a small bone between his nose and upper lip, Emrich said. He was driven to the Ventura hospital by a school nurse.

The incident occurred on a walkway outside a science classroom on the north end of campus, Emrich said. After a short exchange between the suspect and another 15-year-old, the two began fighting, Emrich said.

When Tokar tried to break up the fight, the first boy intentionally slugged the teacher with a closed fist, Pulido said.

“There wasn’t really a whole lot of words being exchanged,” Pulido said of the moments leading up to the fight.

The first boy left campus and the other student, who is not a gang member, left the area, Pulido said. Both boys were identified by students who saw the fight.

The second boy was interviewed by school officials and temporarily suspended, Pulido said.