A paraprofessional educator walking in the Raynor area of the school building at about 7:30 a.m. spotted a man on the ground, said a statement from Stamford police. Thinking he was injured, she went to investigate and saw his hand "in his pants manipulating his penis," police said.
She yelled at him and quickly notified school officials, police said. The man, later identified as Michael Luecke, 72, of Stamford, left the area, police said.
School officials and school resource police officers found Luecke in a classroom, where he was working with students, police said. He was detained by the school resource officers and taken to Westhill's main office, police said.
"Video surveillance was found showing Luecke .. in a corner of a stairwell in the Rayner building suspiciously manipulating the front of his pants while looking at students in the courtyard," police said.
In the video surveillance, he was then seen hiding behind lockers briefly and then lying with his pants open on the floor, police said. The witness is then seen confronting him while he is on the floor with his pants open, police said of the video surveillance.
In the video, six students passed his location while he was masturbating, police said. Police were working to identify the students to see whether they are in need of counseling.
Luecke was arrested and taken to Stamford Police Headquarters for processing. He was charged with public indecency, second-degree breach of peace and risk of injury to a minor. He was held on $25,000 bond. No court date was released.
The man had worked in the district as a substitute for a number of years without any complaints, said Sharon Beadle, a spokeswoman for the Stamford School District.
“I know that the school is investigating as well as the police,” Beadle said Wednesday.
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