UPDATE: More details confirmed in teacher’s assault arrest
UPDATE (5/7/24): Pafford is expected to return to court at 8:30 a.m. on June 26 in the General Sessions Court of Gibson County at Humboldt.
UPDATE (4/25/24): Additional details have been confirmed following the arrest of a Gibson County educator.
According to an affidavit of complaint filed in Gibson County General Sessions Court, an investigator with the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the incident that took place at South Gibson County Elementary School after authorities were contacted by the victim’s father.
The investigator stated he reviewed video footage of the incident, saying he observed Cristal Pafford shove the nine-year-old student “very hard and aggressive.”
The affidavit confirms the District Attorney General’s Office has been contacted regarding this incident.
Pafford is currently out on bond following her arrest on April 20.
Pafford is expected to appear in Gibson County General Sessions Court at Humboldt at 8:30 a.m. on May 1.
EARLIER STORY (4/23/24):
GIBSON COUNTY, Tenn. — A West Tennessee educator was taken into custody after allegations of an assault involving a student.
According to the Gibson County Sheriff’s Department, 58-year-old Cristal Roney Pafford was arrested on Saturday, April 20 and booked into the Gibson County jail on one charge of assault.
Pafford is a Physical Education teacher at South Gibson County Elementary School.
Several WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News Tipsters alerted us to an incident involving Pafford allegedly pushing a student at the school earlier this month.
We reached out to Eddie Pruett, Director of Schools for the Gibson County Special School District, who released the following statement:
Children’s safety and education is a top priority at GCSSD. Our district has policies and procedures in place that we must adhere to when handling situations involving school personnel. We were made aware of a situation that occurred at our school. We are in the process of investigating and determining final actions. However, we do not discuss personnel issues.
Pruett later confirmed that Pafford is currently on suspension.
Booking information shows that Pafford’s bail was set at $2,500. Records available online indicate Pafford bonded out of custody shortly after her arrest on Saturday.
According to information from the Gibson County Sheriff’s Department, Pafford is expected to appear in court on May 1.
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