Teacher accused of throwing dodgeball at 8-year-old student's face

HOUSTON – A La Porte Independent School District teacher is facing charges after he was accused of throwing a dodgeball at a young student's face.

Ryan Lee Lemmon, 31, is charged with injury to a child. Lemmon is a physical education teacher at College Park Elementary School.

On Feb. 10, Deer Park police interviewed the mother of the 8-year-old boy, who claimed he was struck in the face by a dodgeball thrown by Lemmon two days earlier. She said her son complained of ear pain and hearing loss in his left ear after the incident.

According to court documents, Lemmon told police he saw the boy throw a dodgeball at another student's face, so as the boy was walking off the court Lemmon threw a dodgeball in the boy's direction, striking him in the face.

Police said Lemmon told them he was upset with the boy at the time, and that he acknowledged he had not acted in a professional manner.

Court documents state video footage confirmed that Lemmon threw the ball at the boy's face.

Lemmon was arrested Thursday. He posted a $5,000 bond.

He is due in court on Monday.