FROM STAFF REPORTS

The Statesville Police Department has completed its investigation of a complaint that a juvenile was inappropriately touched at American Renaissance School by a contractor and determined there is no evidence that a crime was committed.

The SPD received a complaint on Wednesday, March 29, about an incident that allegedly occurred while the student was being photographed at ARS Middle School.

The complaint was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division, which conducted a “thorough investigation into the alleged incident,” according to an SPD news release.

Information gathered through interviews with ARS employees who were present during the alleged incident have provided no evidence of any inappropriate behavior related to the photography sessions at the school, police said.

Based on witness statements, a teacher and other staff were present and viewed the entire photo process on the day of the alleged incident, according to the news release. ARS requires staff to be present any time a contracted employee is with a student, police said. 

The information obtained during the investigation was presented to the District Attorney’s Office, which concurred there is no evidence to substantiate the complaint, police said.