MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – A Myrtle Beach High School teacher was placed on paid leave last week and arrested Thursday morning.
Horry County Schools spokesperson Lisa Bourcier confirms Timothy Beck was placed on paid administrative leave March 23. Bourcier says because the matter is considered a personnel issue, she cannot release any other information related to Beck’s leave other than to report “the district responded appropriately by placing Mr. Beck on administrative leave with pay.”
Beck was arrested Thursday morning by Myrtle Beach police and charged with assault and battery third degree. The police report states that a student and his mother came to the Myrtle Beach Police Department the afternoon of March 22 and reported that the student was assaulted by Beck during class earlier that day.
The student said he and another girl were passing notes in class. Beck noticed, and asked for the paper but the student said he did not have it. According to the report, Beck grabbed the hood of the student’s jacket and pulled him out of his chair while telling the student to find the note. The girl with whom the note was being passed told Beck she had the note and handed it over.
The report states Beck then “threw the victim down in his chair, causing the victim to roll back into his chair and hit the wall.”
The student claims he went back to Beck’s classroom after school to apologize and that Beck told him “he did not want to hear it” and walked away.
Beck’s attorney, Billy Monckton, says the exchange reported to police by the student is accurate except for the information claiming the student hit the wall. Monckton says that did not happen.
“These allegations have caused my client to be arrested, suspended from a job he loves which is sad.” Monckton said. “Unfortunately in this day and time students can misbehave in class and there are no repercussions for it.”
Monckton also states that police obtained a warrant before collecting statements from other students in the room or speaking with Beck. The attorney claims statements from 10 students were eventually collected and none of them say anything about the student hitting a wall.
Myrtle Beach Police Captain Joey Crosby says the officer “collected evidence that met the probable cause threshold, and when presented to a Judge, was granted an arrest warrant.”
According to Facebook posts from Myrtle Beach High School, Beck was awarded MBHS 2015 Teacher of the Year. Bourcier confirms Beck has been employed with the district since July 1, 2009.