A Korean-American elementary school teacher in his 30s was arrested for molesting students. The teacher allegedly made inappropriate physical contact with more than a dozen students in exchange for candy.
According to the Connecticut Department of Children and Family Services, Andrew Park, 33, a fifth-grade teacher at Strawberry Hill Elementary School in Stamford, was charged with 36 counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, risk of injury to a minor, and illegal sexual contact with a victim under 16 years of age.
The Stamford Police Department arrested Park at a nearby apartment in Norwalk, Connecticut, after executing a search warrant on April 5.
“Park, who has been employed at the school since 2019, is alleged to have molested at least 12 female students between the ages of 11 and 13,” said Lieutenant Jerry Junes of the Stamford Police Department. “We are continuing to investigate whether there are additional victims and from the evidence seized from the apartment.”
According to police, Park gave the students candy and solicited physical contact, including hugs and kisses. The students could clearly describe the areas of their bodies that Park touched during the investigation.
“Students who did not want him to grope them even began to wear their backpacks low to cover themselves,” said Connecticut State’s Attorney Elizabeth Moran. “Park’s behavior caused great concern among students and had already been reported by several students.”
The investigation began in February when a female student reported that she was late for class after trying to avoid Park in the school hallway.
“Upon receiving the report of the sexual misconduct, we immediately reported it to the Department of Children and Family Services and placed Park on administrative leave,” the Stamford school district said in a statement, “and we are cooperating fully with law enforcement.”
Park is currently being held on $175,000 bail. If Park is released on bail, he will be placed under house arrest, except to take his one-year-old daughter to daycare, according to Connecticut state court documents.
BY YEOL JANG, HOONSIK WOO [jang.yeol@koreadaily.com]
