Palatine Teacher Accused Of Battery After Fight With Student

PALATINE, IL -- A local schoolteacher accused of throwing an electronic device at a student was arrested this week and placed on paid administrative leave while the case is investigated.

Sue Ellen Patkunas, 51, of the 1200 block of North Lakeview Drive in Palatine, turned herself into police on Friday, according to a Journal and Topics report. She teaches seventh- and eighth-grade students at Winston Campus Junior High School, 120 N. Babcock Drive.

The one count of simple battery charge she now faces stems from a Jan. 22 incident that reportedly started when a student refused to remove earbuds.

"Police said as the verbal altercation escalated, the teacher eventually removed the earbuds by pulling on the cord," the Journal and Topics article says. "The teacher then threw an electronic device in the direction of the student, which resulted in the student being struck in the face by the device ... "

The student did not require medical attention.

Look to the Journal and Topics for additional details.

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