PE teacher arrested for assaulting student at Mesa charter school

PHOENIX — A teacher with the American Leadership Academy in Mesa was arrested for aggravated assault of a student on Thursday.

Police were sent to the school on the intersection of Sossaman and Pecos roads at around 3 p.m. to investigate a tip that a teacher had physically assaulted a student.

The teacher, 52-year-old Nathan Hansen, was identified by police upon arrival.

The initial investigation revealed the physical education teacher attempted to take a cell phone away from a 14-year-old male student during class before pushing him to the ground and dragging him by his hoodie.

Surveillance footage corroborated the investigation results, police said in a release.

The 14-year-old student suffered minor injuries from the incident.

Hansen was arrested at his home and charged with aggravated assault by an adult on a minor under 15 years of age.

Related

Mesa man arrested after allegedly firing at officers during barricade situationPeoria resident struck and killed by train in Flagstaff, police sayHow did Arizona wind up with a decade-long teacher shortage — with no end in sight?Arizona state land sales nearly double to $817.8M, fueled by major auctionsFatal collision in Mesa shuts down Stapley Drive in both directionsSevere weather with dust, rain rolls into Valley Sunday night