Rhode Island

RI Substitute Teacher Charged After Odd Classroom Behavior

A substitute teacher in Rhode Island in facing disorderly conduct charges because students say he talked about a school shooting and chased them around the classroom.

Woonsocket police say 58-year-old Phillip Cole was arrested Thursday at the public library after he'd been ordered to leave Hamlet Middle School by the assistant principal.

She told police students told her that Cole had chased them around the room and "acted as though he wanted to hurt them" and "had made mention of a school shooting."

Police say once in the assistant principal's office, Cole began to yell about his financial difficulties and said his firing would kill him, while pretending to stab himself in the stomach.

Cole was freed on $5,000 bail and referred to the public defender's office.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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