Another New London Public Schools employee has been charged in connection with an ongoing investigation that began with allegations against an employee at Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School.
Melissa Rodriguez, 35, a teacher at Bennie Dover, is charged with failure to report as a mandated reporter.
Under Connecticut law, school teachers are mandated reporters, meaning they are required to report any suspected abuse or neglect to the Department of Children and Families or law enforcement.
Police said her arrest is connected to an ongoing investigation into New London Public School employees. Capt. Brian Wright said that Rodriguez has resigned from her job.
The warrant is sealed and no other details were immediately released.
Two other Bennie Dover employees have been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into New London Public School employees, police said.
The first arrest was 35-year-old Corriche Gaskin, 35, who worked at Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School as a behavioral specialist. He was charged with multiple counts of risk of injury to a child, illegal possession of child pornography, second degree sexual assault and voyeurism with malice. He is next scheduled to appear in court on June 5.
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School district officials previously said four employees from New London Schools were placed on paid administrative leave related to the investigation into Gaskin.
On May 23, 25-year-old Jevon Elmore, of New London, was arrested and charged with sexual assault in the second degree. Police said the warrant is sealed and they have disclosed limited information on the allegations.
Police said Elmore was hired in the summer of 2018 as a paraprofessional and has worked at Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School and the high school. Elmore’s case was scheduled for a hearing Tuesday.
Investigators have not said how the three cases are connected.
NBC Connecticut has reached out to New London Public Schools for comment.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to call the New London Police Department’s Detective Bureau at 860-447-1481 or submit anonymous information through the New London Tips 411 system by texting NLPDTip plus the information to Tip411 (847411).
