[B]URLINGTON — A Burlington Technical Center teacher is on paid administrative leave and faces an assault charge after being accused of hurting a female student in his criminal justice class.
David Scibek allegedly used a pressure point technique on the 16-year-old student in late November. Vermont State Police said the maneuver caused the student to fall out of her chair, hitting her back on a metal computer cabinet. The student reported pain and received medical treatment after the incident.
Burlington School District spokesperson Russ Elek said Scibek, who spent 20 years with the Burlington Police Department, has been on leave from the district since the alleged assault Nov. 29.
Elek wouldn’t supply information about the student who lodged the complaint. He also wouldn’t discuss when Scibek started as an instructor at the technical center. Scibek’s LinkedIn profile says he created the school’s criminal justice program and began teaching students in 2007.
Vermont State Police Detective Sgt. Tara Thomas is leading the investigation, which started the day after the incident was reported. She didn’t respond to requests for comment.
Burlington Deputy Police Chief Shawn Burke said the student came to the city’s police headquarters to report the alleged incident. Because Scibek is a retired police corporal, the investigation was immediately turned over to state police, Burke said.
Scibek retired from the Burlington Police Department in 2008 in good standing. While working there, he held a variety of positions, including supervisor for the Beach and Parks unit and as a field training officer.
Scibek, of Colchester, was also a longtime Malletts Bay fire chief.
He didn’t respond to a message left at a phone number associated with his name.
Vermont Police Academy Director of Administration and Certification Drew Bloom said a pressure point technique “can be effective” but declined to say it’s appropriate to use in a high school setting.
