A day after San Diego police arrested a teacher for allegedly engaging in a sex act with a student, the school is feeling the ripple effects.
Toni Nicole Sutton, a 37-year-old Spanish teacher and volleyball coach at Crawford High School, was arrested late Thursday night.
Police said after a parent discovered inappropriate communication between her son and an adult family friend, investigators found evidence that led them to suspect Sutton. The son is a CHS student and a minor.
NBC 7 talked to students, with their parent’s permission, about the arrest, and many said Sutton seems like a nice teacher.
“I did have her as a teacher,” said student Guled Hussein. “She was actually a pretty cool teacher. She helped us out with everything we needed help. I hope this is not telling the truth, what is going on.”
It was a tough situation for the students caught in the middle of a very adult situation.
On Thursday the parent called police concerned about her son's relationship with Sutton.
Police went to CHS to talk to Sutton and led her from campus for questioning. Sex Crimes detectives then found enough evidence to arrest her.
Sutton is not married, but she lives with her boyfriend not far from the school. She has a daughter, and her boyfriend has two children.
Local
Several students found the arrest unbelievable, saying Sutton always seemed like a good person.
“She was a good teacher; she was a cool teacher. She was always there for the students who needed help, give snacks and stuff like that. She wasn't a person who would do bad things,” said student Ricky Stewart.
The San Diego Unified School District put Sutton on paid administrative leave and said she will not return to campus. A substitute teacher will be taking over the Spanish class.
