Latest news with #Gridley
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Yahoo
Student's family suing Lawrence School District after alleged sex abuse
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A lawsuit has been filed after a school staff member in Lawrence was recently accused of sexually abusing a student at an elementary school. Monsees & Mayer, P.C., a Kansas City-based firm, announced Friday that a lawsuit has been filed in Douglas County District Court against the Lawrence School District on behalf of a 6-year-old student and her family. Kansas City Manager Brian Platt suspended after whistleblower lawsuit The lawsuit states that while the student was attending Prairie Park Elementary School, she was sexually abused by Mark Gridley, who was then a speech pathologist employed by the district. Gridley, 61, is facing criminal charges, including one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, in relation to the incident. He is currently being held in the Douglas County jail with bond set at $1.5 million. FOX4 has reached out to an attorney representing Gridley in the criminal case to comment on the lawsuit. The lawsuit states that sometime from Feb. 6-7, Gridley 'used his position of trust and authority to isolate, groom, and/or sexually abuse students under the guise of speech therapy.' It claims that the school district knew or had reason to know that Gridley 'engaged in acts of misconduct consistent with a dangerous propensity for unwanted or abusive contact' with children but that the district failed to take action and continued to allow him to work at the school. In an email Friday, the school district said it was unable to comment. The lawsuit asks for a jury trial to conducted and requests compensatory damages in excess of $75,000. 'Our clients are experiencing every parent's worst nightmare when they drop their kids off at school,' Reed Martens, the family's attorney, said in a statement Friday. 'The parents are seeking justice for their daughter in hopes that something like this will never happen.' A court date has not yet been set in the civil case. The Lawrence Police Department, the lead investigating agency in the criminal case, said last week that it was requesting additional charges to be filed against Gridley, and stated that there has been a total of eight possible victims identified in the case. As of Friday, additional charges have not been announced by the district attorney's office. Gridley's next court date in the criminal case is March 26. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Yahoo
Lawrence police requesting additional charges for teacher charged with assault
KANSAS ITY, Mo. — The Lawrence Police Department have submitted a new charging affidavit to the Douglas County District Attorney's Office requesting new charges be filed against a Lawrence teacher. Mark Gridley, 60, worked as a speech and language pathologist at Prairie Park Elementary School before his arrest. He's worked in the Lawrence School District since 2021. KCPD officers fire shots while investigating disturbance at home Lawrence police announced Thursday that and the total number of victims is now eight. The allegations made against Gridley reportedly occurred over a two-day period at the school from Feb. 6 to Feb. 7. Police said the victims range in age from 6 to 11 years old. According to an affidavit released last week, one potential victim claimed that Gridley blindfolded him and tied his hands, saying he wanted to do a 'tongue strength test.' He's under the age of 14 and one count of kidnapping. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Police continue to ask parents to speak with their children. They say it's important to ID anyone impacted so they can get services to victims. Gridley is being held in jail on a $1.5 million bond. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Yahoo
More alleged victims come forward after Lawrence teacher charged with assault
LAWRENCE, Kan. — A Lawrence, Kansas teacher is facing sexual assault of a minor and kidnapping charges. Douglas County prosecutors charged Mark Gridley, a teacher at Prairie Park Elementary. Lawrence police announced on Tuesday that more alleged victims have come forward since the news broke on Monday. Now, detectives are expanding the investigation. Deputy Chief Anthony Brixius said the investigation will include potential students outside of those receiving speech services at the school. Man pleads guilty for Shawnee house fire that injured family Gridley, 60, was a speech and language pathologist at Prairie Park Elementary School. He's under the age of 14 and one count of kidnapping. Brixius said according to public records, Gridley's worked in the Lawrence School District since 2021. Police continue to ask parents to speak with their children. They say it's important to ID anyone impacted so they can get services to victims. 'It's heartbreaking and if you hear a parent call in and talk about what they spoke with their children about and the parents thus far have been good about following the directions,' Brixius said. 'You can certainly hear the pain in their voices and we have a lot of investigators on this right now.' Lawrence Public Schools said Monday 'The district immediately relieved the individual of all duties.' Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Gridley's being held on a $1.5 million bond. His next court appearance is Wednesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Yahoo
Teacher charged after allegedly assaulting 2 students inside Lawrence elementary school
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A 60-year-old teacher from Lawrence, Kansas has been arrested after investigators say he sexually assaulted two students at a local elementary school last Friday. According to a , Mark Elliot Gridley, a Speech and Language Pathologist at Prairie Park Elementary School, was arrested and charged with one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child under the age of 14, and one count of kidnapping. More details released in Kansas City sports reporter's death in New Orleans, funeral plans Court documents said that one child was born in 2014, which makes them either 10 or 11 years old. Police said that on Saturday morning, one of the victims called Lawrence officers and told them that the assault happened in the early morning hours of the school day on Friday, Feb. 7. A few days later, on Monday morning, investigators learned of a second possible victim. The Interim Superintendent of Lawrence Public Schools, Jeanice K. Swift, issued a statement on Monday afternoon about the recent allegations. It read: 'The Lawrence Police Department recently notified us of serious allegations leading to the weekend arrest and ongoing investigation into the conduct of this individual,' Swift wrote. 'The district immediately relieved the individual of all duties. School and district administration continue to work closely alongside our law enforcement partners to support their investigative efforts. We will keep staff and families informed as the investigation progresses.' Swift continued by saying that the district holds the highest standards for its employees and that it will be taking actions in accordance with Lawrence Board and Education Policy. More details in Merriam deadly shooting revealed in court documents 'Please continue to report any safety concerns you may have to your child's school and encourage your children to do the same,' she said. 'We have school mental health teams to support student and staff needs. If you think your child or family could benefit from visiting with a counselor, please reach out to your school.' Additionally, officers are working closely with the Children's Advocacy Center of Douglas County, school administrators, and the District Attorney's Office to help investigate any other crimes Gridley may have committed or victims potentially connected to this case. The Lawrence Police Department has set up an on-site law enforcement presence at the school and a phone line for parents who need to report a concern about their child and any contact with Gridley. If you have any information regarding this case, police ask that you call law enforcement at (785) 830-7430 before discussing any details in-depth with your child. KCPD questioning someone after man found shot, killed 'Lawrence Police and the Children's Advocacy Center of Douglas County are here and ready to talk to you and your child,' the Lawrence Police Department said. 'They are trained to address these issues while limiting the traumatic impact these discussions have on young victims.' This is an ongoing investigation and the identities and exact ages of the victims will not be released to the public. Currently, there are no additional details about the nature of the assault. For the latest details regarding this case, tune into for the latest coverage. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
