WARWICK, R.I. — A former Tampa school administrator and current high-ranking school official in Rhode Island was arrested Monday and has since resigned after being placed on leave.
CBS affiliate WPRI reports 40-year-old Olayinka Alege, who oversaw middle and high schools in Providence, was charged with misdemeanor simple assault and/or battery.
According to NBC affiliate WJAR, the arrest stems from an April 20 situation at a fitness center in Warwick. Citing a police report, the television station says a boy accused Alege of removing his shoe and sock without asking before massaging up and down his feet for 30-45 seconds.
WPRI, citing law enforcement, says the boy was able to get his foot away from Alege and move away.
“[The] only other interaction with the Alege was while [he] was working out on a machine, Alege smiled and winked at [him],” police wrote in a report. obtained by the CBS affiliate.
The boy reportedly called his parents to pick him up, and the alleged incident was reported to police in Warwick. According to WJAR, Alege's gym membership privileges were recently terminated.
The Providence Public School District tells WPRI Alege was put on administrative leave.
”Upon being informed of recent allegations against Dr. Alege, the district placed him on administrative leave," a spokesperson told WPRI. "As a district, we hold our staff, school leaders and administrators to the highest of standards and take any allegation extremely seriously.”
In a joint statement obtained Wednesday by 10 Tampa Bay, State Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green and Providence Superintendent Harrison Peters said Alege had since resigned.
“The charges against Dr. Alege are extremely concerning and disturbing. After learning the full details of the allegations -- including the fact that there is video evidence supporting the authenticity of the claims -- the District asked for Dr. Alege’s resignation, which has been received," they wrote.
"As leaders, and as parents ourselves, we will always prioritize the safety and well-being of students. It is deeply upsetting to see anyone -- particularly a high-level administrator - -violate the trust we placed in him to act in accordance with the high standards we set for all District staff," they added.
Alege previously worked for Hillsborough County Public Schools in the Tampa Bay area, where students had previously complained about his "unusual" punishments.
"Five boys told deputies that King High assistant principal Olayinka Alege asked them on numerous occasions to take off a shoe and sock behind closed doors, and allow him to 'pop' their toes," the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported in 2009. "They said it didn't hurt, but they didn't like it, either."
One student told the newspaper it happened so often he would frequently just offer up his foot when he entered the office at school.
What other people are reading right now:
- Gov. DeSantis declares state of emergency over cyberattack targeting Colonial Pipeline
- Are there any gas shortages in my area?
- Doctors recommend 'smell training' for COVID-19 related loss of taste, smell
- Make checking your insurance coverage part of your hurricane preparedness plan
- DA to seek death penalty, hate crime charges against 22-year-old arrested for Atlanta-area spa shootings
►Breaking news and weather alerts: Get the free 10 Tampa Bay app
►Stay In the Know! Sign up now for the Brightside Blend Newsletter
