Lake Wales teacher arrested in Polk County burglary and assault felonies

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Published  December 18, 2024 6:08pm EST
FOX 35 Orlando
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The Brief

    • Thomas Griffin, 51, a teacher at McLaughlin Middle School, was taken into custody on December 17 following an alleged attack at a Lake Wales home on December 14.
    • Deputies responded to the home after reports of a battery and found an adult male victim in distress. 
    • Griffin remains in custody, and the investigation is ongoing.

ORLANDO, Fla. - A middle school teacher in Lake Wales has been arrested on charges of burglary with assault, false imprisonment, and battery by strangulation, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said.

Thomas Griffin, 51, a teacher at McLaughlin Middle School, was taken into custody on December 17 following an alleged attack at a Lake Wales home on December 14.

Deputies responded to the home after reports of a battery and found an adult male victim in distress. 

Credit: Polk County Sheriff's Office

The victim was treated at the scene by Polk County Fire Rescue and later transported to a hospital.

He was evaluated for injuries including facial trauma, a knocked-out tooth, and neck marks consistent with strangulation, authorities said.

According to the victim’s girlfriend, Griffin arrived at her residence, banged on the door, and demanded to know the victim’s whereabouts. 

When the victim attempted to speak with him, Griffin allegedly forced his way inside and attacked him. 

The woman, who said she previously had a romantic relationship with Griffin, told deputies he did not have permission to be at her home.

The victim told deputies Griffin grabbed him by the throat, restricting his ability to breathe, and pinned him against a wall before repeatedly striking him in the face with a closed fist. 

According to authorities, Griffin fled the scene after the attack but was arrested by the PCSO three days later.

Griffin was charged with:

  • Burglary with Assault (first-degree felony)
  • False Imprisonment (third-degree felony)
  • Battery by Strangulation (third-degree felony)

"The suspect forced his way into the home and violently attacked the victim," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd in a statement. "As a teacher—hopefully a former teacher—Griffin holds a position of trust in our community, a trust that has been severely broken. School students should not be exposed to this kind of potentially volatile behavior."

Polk County Public Schools confirmed that Griffin has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.

"These allegations are troubling," the school district said in a statement. "Polk County Public Schools has placed this employee on leave while an internal investigation takes place."

Griffin remains in custody, and the investigation is ongoing.

The Source: The information in this article comes from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

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