Crime & Safety
High School Student Arraigned on Assault Charge
The 18-year-old also faces charges including witness intimidation and threatening to commit a crime.
A Swampscott High School student was arraigned this week for allegedly assaulting a teacher over an incident involving a cell phone.
Narek Demirtshyan, 18, of 1004 Paradise Road, #2P, Swampscott is also charged with threatening to commit a crime, disturbing a public assembly, witness intimidation and disorderly conduct.
He was arraigned at Lynn District Court Monday and released on personal recognizance bail.
The charges stem from a cell phone-related incident on Oct. 28 at the school, according to court records.
The police report is based, in part, on School Resource Officer Rose Cheever's interview with the teacher. It states that the teacher took a cell phone from a student in her classroom, about 1:45 p.m., and placed it in her desk drawer.
The student had been taking pictures — selfies — with it during class and trying to take pictures of her, the report states.
The teacher has a no cell phone policy in her classroom, the report states.
Narek Demirtshyan then told the teacher that the phone she took from the student belonged to him and he wanted it back, the report states.
The teacher responded that he could have it back after class, according to the report.
The teacher said the student got angry and walked to her desk and tried to take the phone from the drawer. As she stood in front of the drawer, he reached around her and bumped into her, she said.
The report states that the student continued to confront and argue with the teacher and, later, with others including the campus monitor.
Later, about 2:35 p.m., after the school bell rang, the student allegedly returned to the teacher's classroom doorway and told her that he had been suspended and that she had better fix it "right away or I swear to God ...," the report states.
The student was suspended by Assistant Principal Frank Kowalski for 7 days.
The case is scheduled for a probable cause hearing on Feb. 10.
The report states that the student did not file a written account of the incident with police.
The criminal complaint for the incident was issued on Nov. 8.
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