TOLEDO – Mayor Rod Cross is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Lincoln County circuit court stemming from his arrest for allegedly slapping a student at Toledo Junior/Senior High School last month.
CrossA Lincoln County Sheriff’s school resource deputy received a report Oct. 24 alleging that Cross, 63, who is also a volunteer football coach at the school, had slapped a student during a conversation in the school’s gymnasium, according to a sheriff’s press release.
Deputies conducted a followup investigation with the Lincoln County School District on Oct. 27. After interviewing the student, Cross and reviewing video footage, Cross was issued a criminal citation for harassment.
“The student reported no physical injury but felt embarrassed in front of peers who witnessed the incident,” according to the press release.
Cross said “I have no comment at this time,” when contacted by the Lincoln Chronicle on Wednesday.
The Lincoln County School District did not respond to questions from the Chronicle about how long Cross has been a football coach at the school and whether he has been suspended or fired.
“The district is aware of the recent charges filed against a coach,” district public information officer Susan Schuytema responded via email. “We take the safety and well-being of our students seriously and are responding in accordance with district policy and legal requirements. We are limited in what we can share, but appropriate steps are being followed through the investigation.”
Cross is in his fourth two-year term as Toledo’s mayor after serving 10 years on the city council.
— Garret Jaros/Lincoln Chronicle
I wonder why the charge is harassment rather than assault, which I believe under Oregon law includes assault and battery.
And is the victim a minor?
Because assault requires injury (a cut, bruise, mark) under Oregon law. Thats why the release notes that the student had no injury. Harassment is “offensive in physical contact.”
Thanks. That’s what I suspected. But can you tell me the rationale behind a law that doesn’t classify striking someone as either an assault or battery just because there’s no injury? Seems strange.
The district will probably be sued over this. This individual is likely to incur costs for the district. He should be fired and resign as mayor.