East Helena High School Student Cited After Assault on Teacher Caught on Video

A student at East Helena High School was cited for misdemeanor assault after video circulated online showing the student allegedly punching a teacher multiple times inside a classroom on March 12, Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton confirmed.

Dutton told MTN the student was angry because the teacher had allegedly done something to his sister, though no additional details about that underlying allegation were provided. The teacher received minor injuries, was evaluated by medical staff, and treated on site. No hospitalizations were reported.

Because the student is a minor, the case will be handled in juvenile court. The student has been suspended from East Helena High School, located at 2760 Valley Drive.

MTN obtained video of the alleged assault and blurred the faces of the students and teacher before publishing it. The footage appears to show the teacher being struck multiple times. MTN said its calls to the school seeking further clarification were not immediately returned.

Superintendent Dan Rispens sent an email to parents on the same day as the incident. "School administration will be managing student discipline in regards to this situation in accordance with our student handbook and board policies as well as state and federal law," Rispens wrote. He added that the incident was isolated.

East Helena Public Schools has not released the identities of the student or teacher involved. Because the student is a minor, juvenile proceedings restrict the disclosure of identifying information.