Bakersfield Teacher’s Wrongful Arrest Claim Rejected by City Following Hickey Misinterpretation
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – A Bakersfield teacher’s claim alleging wrongful arrest after being accused of child abuse has been rejected by the city, according to documents reviewed by 17 News.The case stems from an incident in April where a mark on the teacher’s son’s neck led to a police examination and her subsequent arrest.
On April 2, the teacher, identified in the claim as Tull, noticed a mark on her youngest son’s neck and questioned him about it. According to the claim, the son stated he didn’t know how it got there and reported no pain, wanting to go to school. Tull dropped off both her sons, ages 10 and 7, at Old River Elementary School before heading to her job at Leo B. Hart Elementary School.
Later that day, Tull was summoned to Old River by the principal and subsequently questioned by three Bakersfield Police department officers. The officers believed the mark was a hickey, alleging her son had told them Tull kissed him on the neck. Tull was arrested after over two hours of questioning, the claim states.
The investigation was quickly closed two days after Tull’s arrest due to a lack of evidence, according to Kern County District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Joseph Kinzel. Bakersfield Police Department spokesperson Sally Selby confirmed the case’s closure.
The claim alleges Tull suffered “severe trauma and damage” to her personal and professional life following the arrest. She lost her position as a special day class teacher and mild/moderate education specialist with the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District, where she had worked since August 2012. Tull began treatment with mental health professionals for anxiety, depression, and panic attacks, and received threats via social media, including the public posting of her address and photos of her sons. her children were removed from her home until May 28.
The city rejected Tull’s claim on October 30. City spokesperson joe Conroy stated the city does not comment on filed claims.
As of Friday evening, 17 News has not received a response from the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District regarding Tull’s employment status.
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