The Associated Press, June 13, 1999

Teacher charged with assault announces retirement

TECUMSEH -- A Tecumseh swim instructor, charged with assault and battery, has announced his retirement.

Larry Reed, 50, pleaded innocent to one count of assault and battery, a misdemeanor, at his Friday arraignment before Lenawee County District Court Judge Natalia M. Koselka.

Reed is accused of grabbing a 13-year-old student in a seventh-grade swim class May 21. The student allegedly had been acting up.

According to a Tecumseh Police report, Reed guided the student down some bleacher steps and told him to sit near the teacher for the rest of class. The teen-ager sustained a bruise on his upper left arm.

Police investigated the incident at the student's father's request.

If convicted, Reed faces a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $500 fine. A trial is scheduled for Aug. 20.

Reed taught swimming and diving classes for 30 years. He came to Tecumseh 10 years ago, after spending 20 years at Milan schools.

Reed will retire when his contract expires June 30, said middle school principal Mike McAran.

McAran said the assault charges likely don't have anything to with Reed's decision to retire.

"I guess he was considering retirement for a while but never really talked about it out loud," McAran told The Daily Telegram of Adrian. "He will be missed."