A Massachusetts elementary school teacher has been arrested and charged in connection with an indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, according to police.
Boston Police responded Wednesday afternoon to Patrick J. Kennedy Elementary School in East Boston for a report of an indecent assault and battery.
Officers arrested Nicholas Speller, 31, of Malden, around 4:30 p.m. and charged him with four counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.
Sources tell NBC10 Boston that he is a gym teacher at the school.
Speller has been placed on administrative leave, according to an automated phone call that went out to parents after Speller's arrest.
The robocall said in part, "This incident allegedly involved misconduct by a staff member in our school. We immediately contacted the Boston Police Department and Boston School Police as soon as we learned about it.”
A source tells NBC10 Boston that four separate students were involved.
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School officials say they have spoken directly with the parents of the students who were directly impacted, and they will be providing counselling to any children who are in need of support, according to the phone call from Boston Public Schools.
“Please know the safety of our students is always a top priority of the Boston Public Schools and at the P.J. Kennedy,” the phone call went on to say. “Please know that we are firmly committed to providing a safe and welcoming climate for all of our students — and we are here to support you and your child.”
Parents were urged to call the school at 617-635-8466 with any questions or concerns.
Speller is scheduled to be arraigned in East Boston District Court on Thursday. It's unclear if he has an attorney.
The facts and circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Boston Police Crimes Against Children Unit at 617-343-6183 or anonymously by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-TIPS or by texting the word 'TIP' to CRIME (27463).
No other information was immediately available.
