Special-Ed Aide Investigated for Conduct With Student

Huntington Beach police are investigating whether a special-education instructional aide at Lake View Elementary School has behaved in a criminally inappropriate manner with a child, officials said Monday.

Lt. Chuck Thomas said no one has been arrested or charged, but that the school district has suspended an employee while the investigation continues. He declined to specify the alleged misconduct, saying only that an adult had informed police of a possible problem.

“What I would say is that it’s important at this stage that we don’t jump to any conclusions, regardless of what has been alleged,” Thomas said. “If it’s true or not, I think parents can have a fair amount of comfort in knowing their school district is cooperating completely with the Police Department.”

Lake View Principal Pauline Tressler sent a letter home to parents Wednesday telling them of the alleged misconduct. She assured them that the aide would have no further contact with children at Lake View or any other Ocean View district school until the matter is resolved.

Within two weeks, Thomas said, the Police Department expects to determine if a crime has been committed and whether to make a recommendation to the district attorney’s office.