Elementary School Principal Charged With Assaulting Student: Police

ROCKVILLE, MD — An elementary school principal in Rockville has been charged with assaulting a student. Charges were filed Monday in the incident, which was reported to the Rockville City Police Department on Feb. 9.

The assault by a staff member reportedly occurred at Ritchie Park Elementary School, 1514 Dunster Road in Rockville.

During a joint investigation by the Rockville authoities and the Montgomery County State’s Attorney's Office, the suspect was identified as Andrew Winter, 54, the school’s principal.

On June 3, an arrest warrant was issued by a District Court commissioner for one count of second-degree assault, Rockville Police said Monday. Winter turned himself in at the Central Processing Unit, where he will have an initial appearance before a District Court Commissioner.

Charging documents obtained by WUSA9 accuse Winter of grabbing the student by their clothing and forcing them to sit on a nearby bench. The document also said Winter stomped his foot on top of the student's right foot as he stood over them, causing the student to cry.

"As [the student] continues to weep, Principal Winter sat down on the bench next to the victim and put his arm around the victim's shoulders," the charging document reads.

The reported assault happened during the lunch hour and was captured on school video footage, WUSA reported.

Winter has been on leave from Montgomery County Public Schools and is an associate at FourPoint Education Partners, whose president is former school board member Scott Joftus, Montgomery Community Media reported.