A Lincoln Parish teacher was arrested Tuesday afternoon on charges of cruelty after she allegedly involved in an incident with a student.
Ruston Police arrested Melanie Chapman, 54, at Cypress Springs Elementary about 10:00 a.m. Tuesday on a warrant charging her with cruelty to a person with infirmities.
School Superintendent Ricky Durrett confirmed Chapman’s arrest to the Lincoln Parish Journal Wednesday afternoon. He said Chapman has been removed from the classroom pending more investigation in coordination with the Ruston Police Department.
“As always, the safety of our students is our priority,” Durrett said. “[Chapman] will be on leave while we continue to investigate with the police.”
Durrett said the investigation concerns “one incident with one student” and referred additional questions to RPD.
The school’s website lists Chapman as a special education teacher. The website indicates the school employs five other special education teachers and a number of special education paraprofessionals.
Chapman’s Facebook page says she started teaching at Cypress Springs in 2020. Her bail was set at $25,000.
Attempts to contact the RPD have not been returned. Should RPD return messages, this story will be updated.
Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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