Teacher Arrested on Campus After Complaint by Student

A veteran Alhambra teacher was arrested on campus this week after being accused of battery by a student.

Donald Monson, 58, who has taught at Mark Keppel High School for 27 years, was taken into custody by Alhambra police officers Tuesday. He was released on his own recognizance and could not be reached for comment. His attorney declined to give Monson’s account of the incident.

Alhambra Police Chief Russ Siverling said Monson was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor battery after a citizen’s arrest initiated by a male student. Police and school officials declined to identify the 17-year-old boy.

Lt. Rocky Caringello said the student was being disciplined for talking in Monson’s class and was sent to the dean’s office. While in the dean’s office, the boy complained that Monson had struck him on the shoulder.

Police were called and the process of making a citizen’s arrest was explained to the student. The boy decided that he wanted Monson arrested, Caringello said.

Principal Rudy Chavez was asked to bring Monson to the dean’s office, where Monson was handcuffed and taken into custody.

Caringello said the case is under investigation by police and has not yet been forwarded to the district attorney’s office.

Alhambra School District Supt. Heber Meeks declined to comment.

Monson’s attorney, Richard Schwab, said the incident will have a chilling effect on all teachers and other authority figures.

“It’s a sign of the times,” Schwab said. “Everyone who is in a position of authority, whether it’s a police officer or a teacher, that rug of authority is being pulled out from underneath them. The bottom line is even after (Monson) is exonerated, the damage has already been done to him and every other teacher.”

Virginia Clark, president of the Alhambra Teachers Assn., said the association retained Schwab to defend Monson.

“We think this has to be without foundation because we know the man and he’s a wonderful man,” Clark said of Monson. “He’s a social science teacher with high ideals. It’s pretty hard for me to believe he could harm anyone.”