An Evergreen Elementary School teacher was arrested Thursday on suspicion of child molestation.
A student at the school in Lake Bay reported to Pierce County deputies on Feb. 26 that they were molested or groped by a teacher. Detectives began an investigation, and the Peninsula School District removed the teacher from the school, according to the department in a news release.
The 34-year-old man was arrested at his Gig Harbor home. He was booked into Pierce County Jail for investigation of eight counts of first-degree child molestation, jail records show.
In a news release from March 15, Peninsula School District said that the teacher is accused of invading students' boundaries, concerning verbal statements and potential touching.
The school district confirmed on Thursday that the teacher remains on administrative leave.
"As the Superintendent of the Peninsula School District, I take the safety and well-being of our students very seriously and want to assure our community that these allegations are in stark opposition to everything we stand for. As our community navigates this troubling situation, I want to thank you for keeping the safety and well-being of our students at the forefront of your thoughts and actions," Superintendent Krestin Bahr said in a news release.
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