By Sarah Stephens
Elmore Autauga News
Update Monday, Oct.5 – Austin R. Dorberth, a 27-year-old Millbrook resident, has turned himself into Millbrook Police. He has been charged with harassment and criminal mischief in regard to the story below. He has since bonded out.
Original article – A social media post concerning an incident at Millbrook Middle School this week alleges that a 13-year-old student was shoved by an athletics teacher, and the student’s phone was damaged. The incident was captured on video Wednesday apparently by another student. It reportedly took place during regular school hours. We have chosen not to release the video at this time, as it does feature multiple juveniles, including the one involved.
A police report was filed by the child’s mother relating to this incident, according to Millbrook Police Chief P.K. Johnson. Warrants for two misdemeanor charges were served and the suspect turned himself in to Millbrook Police. He was identified as Austin Dorberth, 27, of Millbrook.
We reached out to Elmore County School Supt. Richard Dennis asking if he could confirm that the staff member has been put on administrative leave. He told us he cannot comment on personnel matters, adding this incident involves a juvenile student.
Friday, the Elmore County Board of Education has released this statement concerning the incident:
Elmore County Board of Education is aware of the video circulating on social media, and we are investigating the matter currently. The employee in the video is not working on the campus of our school and has not been there since October 3, 2024. This is a personnel matter; therefore, we are unable to comment further. Thank you.
The EAN has communicated with the mother of the child involved. She told us that her son was being disciplined, but was told to leave the outside area where the class was being held. In the video, it shows an adult male speaking to the child, then walk towards the child shoving him forcefully. The student lost a shoe and dropped his cell phone during the encounter. The adult male then can be seen picking up the phone and throwing it to the ground. The student picked up the phone and the video ends.
The mother said the first she learned of what had happened, came from her son who called her shortly after the incident.
According to the student’s mother, the phone was damaged and will have to be repaired.
She said she made multiple requests to speak to school officials. She confirmed she did talk to the board’s Human Resources Department. Today she said she had a meeting with Supt. Dennis as well.
In that meeting, she said she was assured that this matter is being taken seriously and investigated. She confirmed she was told the teacher is on administrative leave pending the outcome of that investigation.
We will update this article as more information becomes available.
