For the second time this week a former Melissa ISD employee has been arrested, accused of having an improper relationship with a student.
Detectives said information came to light during the investigation into Melissa High School Band Director Michael Eugene Reddell, who stands accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student, that led to the arrest of 50-year-old government and economics teacher Darrell Glenn Whitten on a similar charge.
Melissa police said Whitten was arrested Friday morning and charged with having an improper relationship with a student, indecency with a child and failing to report child abuse.
Police said the investigations into the relationships, which occurred during the 2014-2015 school year, are ongoing and additional arrests are possible.
"It is a tough day in Melissa, Texas," Melissa Independent School District Superintendent Keith Murphy said in a statement. "My heart aches, and we are all saddened and shocked to learn of the arrest of former Melissa High School employee Glenn Whitten."
In three arrest warrant affidavits released Friday afternoon, Whitten is said to have kissed a student on the neck on two occasions, each lasting about five minutes. In one of the instances, the teenager reported Whitten's erect penis touched her leg and that she felt uncomfortable.
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The teen also told investigators, according to the affidavit, that she told Whitten "about another teacher's inappropriate behavior towards her and stated to him if she were to ever come up missing to call the police and talk to her friend [name redacted]." She told him that she was feeling depressed and suicidal -- none of which was reported by Whitten to the proper authorities.
After working there for nine years, Whitten resigned from the Melissa ISD Thursday. He was arrested Friday morning and booked into the Collin County Jail, where he was held on $22,500 bond. He has since bonded out. He faces two second degree felonies, for the improper relationship and indecency charges, and a Class A misdemeanor for failing to report child abuse, officials said.
Reddell, 39, resigned earlier this week shortly before being arrested on charges of both having an improper relationship with a student and sexual assault for an incident that reportedly took place in the band director's office.
"It's just unreal," said Darlene Renard. "Two teachers, I just can't fathom that."
"It's just right down the street," added Renard. "You send your kids to school, you think they're going to be protected and then something like this happens."
Melissa ISD Chief of Police Kelly Davidson said in a statement Friday that he wanted the community to know school officials have removed all obstacles allowing police to act swiftly and that what was an internal investigation is now being handled by local officials.
"Exhaustive investigations by Melissa ISD police, Collin County Child Abuse Task Force, and other partnering agencies have resulted in the arrests of two former teachers, Michael Reddell and Glenn Whitten. The arrests allege an improper student-teacher relationship during the 2014-2015 school year," Davidson said in a statement.
Murphy added that beginning Monday, Aug. 24, trained counselors and clergy will be available on the high school campus to provide support to both students and staff members.
Documents:
Whitten Arrest Affidavit -- Improper Relationship
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380A 20150820 06 Whitten (Text)
