Gym Teacher Charged With Indecent Exposure

A high school gym teacher and head baseball coach is on administrative leave and barred from contact with students after an arrest on indecent exposure charges.

Newark Police say Charles Word, 31, asked a woman walking in Newark, Del. on Sunday morning for directions. Word, of Ogletown, Del. pulled his car over asked the woman for directions. When the woman approached the car and looked inside, police say Word’s pants were down and he exposed himself.

The woman walked away down S Chapel Street but police say Word followed her in his car and attempted to talk to her again. Investigators say Word ran from his car when the woman told him that she was calling police.

Police were able to identify Word using surveillance video and obtained registration information from his car. He was arrested at his home.

Word, who works at Appoquinimink High School, was charged with indecent exposure and harassment. He was released $4,000 unsecured bail.

Appoquinimink Principal Gayle Rutter wrote in an email to parents Monday that Word won't be allowed to be involved with school activities for the time being.

"He will not be allowed to teach, coach, be on school premises, or involved with school activities until these charges are properly investigated," Rutter wrote.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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