LITTLE ROCK — A Jacksonville High School English teacher was arrested and suspended with pay after police say one of her students stole a handgun from her purse.
April Kiser, a spokesman for the Jacksonville Police Department, said officers had previously responded to the school at 2400 Linda Lane on Tuesday morning for a fight when they were told students in Jennifer Ellen Paul’s classroom had witnessed another student take a handgun from Paul’s purse and hide it in his waistband.
Paul told police she has a concealed carry permit but “forgot to take the gun out of her purse” before coming to school, an arrest report said.
Officers arrested the student without incident and recovered the gun. The student was charged with theft and being minor in possession of a handgun on school property and turned over to the Juvenile Justice Center, Kiser said in a news release.
The student was not identified in the report because he is a youthful offender.
Paul, 55, of 1217 Commons Drive in Jacksonville was arrested about 10 a.m. and charged with possession of a handgun on school property. She was released from custody with a Feb. 2 court date after appearing at Jacksonville District Court, Kiser said.
Deborah Roush, a spokesman for the Pulaski County Special School District, said Paul was suspended with pay pending a district investigation.
Roush said she didn’t have information about Paul’s history with the district or what grade she taught at the high school.
Arkansas, Pages 13 on 01/18/2012