Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.

Commerce teacher charged with assaulting vice principal

Date: 12/19/2011

Dec. 19, 2011

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

SPRINGFIELD — A High School of Commerce teacher has been put on administrative leave following a report on Dec. 13 that he struck a vice principal at the school.

Willie Vega, a teacher in the city’s school system for the past nine years, will go through the system’s disciplinary process, according to Azell Caavan, the spokesperson for the School Department.

According to Springfield Police Sgt. John Delaney, “On Dec. 13 at 12 noon, a 48-year-old vice principal at Commerce High School, 145 State St., called into her office a Willie Vega, age 44 of Melville Street in Springfield, a teacher at the school.

“The vice principal was going over Mr. Vega’s job performance with a teacher evaluation. Mr. Vega became enraged with his evaluation, took the evaluation from the female vice principal and stabbed it with a pen and the crumpled it up. Mr. Vega then stood up and punched the vice principal in the face causing her to fall from her chair. The vice principal attempted to get away from the teacher by fleeing her office. Vega blocked the door and would not let her leave.

“The vice principal then grabbed her portable school radio and called for help. Vega then fled the area and Officer Jason Sleeper of the Springfield Police Department’s Student Support Unit came right away to her assistance.

“The vice principal was treated for a contusion on her face under her eye.

“Officer Sleeper found Vega still inside the building and he was allowed to gather his belongings and was escorted from the school property.”

Delaney explained that because the assault and battery was not committed in the police officer’s presence, by statute Sleeper could not have arrested Vega.

Sleeper wrote a report to the court requesting a warrant for Vega, who will be arraigned in Springfield District Court on Dec. 20 at 9 a.m. to answer charges of Assault and Battery on a Public Employee, Assault and Battery and Kidnapping.

Delaney said, “The kidnapping charge was added after the investigators talked with the victim and she was much calmer. She told the officers that she was not allowed to leave the office and was held against her will. If Officer Sleeper had this information Vega would have been arrested on the spot.”



Bookmark and Share