Newton student allegedly assaulted teacher

By Caitlin Castello, Town Correspondent

A Newton North High School student was charged with assaulting a teacher Friday after a metal box full of marijuana was allegedly confiscated from him at school, police said.

A teacher caught the 16-year-old male with the box in a school bathroom, and took him into an office, where he was told his parents would be contacted, said police Lieutenant Bruce Apotheker. As the student was being escorted to another school office, police said, he allegedly grabbed a different teacher's hand in an attempt to retrieve the box. The teacher was not injured.

The box contained five packages of marijuana, Apotheker said.

In addition to assault and battery, the student is charged with a drug violation in school and intent to distribute a Class D drug, Apotheker said.

The student, whose name was not released because of his age, is scheduled to be arraigned in Waltham Juvenile Court next week.

Disciplinary action is left to the discretion of the principal, Superintendent James Marini said.

Caitlin Castello can be reached at caitlincastello@gmail.com.