• Teacher arrested on charges of assault and child abuse
• Student suffered blows to head and stomach

A teacher in Rockdale County, USA, was arrested on charges of assault and child abuse following an alleged incident inside a school, according to a police report.

The report identified the suspect as Melvin McClain, who faces charges of first- and third-degree assault and child abuse.

The incident was reported on December 2, before the case was later cleared by the arrest.

Police said the report came after school officials received information that a teacher had struck a student on campus.

The deputy, serving as a school resource officer, stated that the incident occurred inside a classroom after other students had been asked to leave.

According to investigations, the student was struck multiple times on the head and stomach, while another student remained in the classroom and witnessed the event.

The names of the students and witnesses were not released in compliance with Georgia’s Open Records Act.

Police located McClain at the Rockdale County Public School Board building, where he described the incident as “horseplay.”

He was arrested, searched, and transported to Rockdale County Jail, with the process documented on body cameras.

The arrest drew additional attention after reports emerged that he had previously been honored as “Teacher of the Year.”

Authorities emphasized that the charges are still allegations, and McClain is considered innocent until proven guilty in court.