HAINES CITY, Fla. (WFLA) – The dean of students at Ridge Community High School is being charged with the failure to report abuse and resisting arrest without violence, according to Haines City Police. 

Police say 38-year-old Kevin Sanford is being charged for not reporting a criminal sexual conduct complaint involving two students on May 28.

Haines City police say they were made aware of the incident after it was reported from a Lake County emergency room after school the same day. 

Police made contact with Sanford on May 29 and say he became physically irate, argumentative and failed to provide pertinent information related to the sexual conduct, according to officers.

Police say he acknowledged to not notifying law enforcement, claiming it was the end of the school day and he had not yet completed his investigation. The principal told Sanford that law enforcement should have been notified immediately.

According to officers, the mother of the alleged victim said that she had spoken with Sanford about the incident about noon on May 28. The mother said she was told by Sanford that he would call her back once he reviewed surveillance video from where on campus the incident was said to have occurred.

Police say when the mother did not hear back from Sanford, she called the school and was told he had left for the day. The mother took her daughter to the emergency room later that day.

“As educators, we have been entrusted with ensuring the safety and well-being of our students,” said Jacqueline M. Byrd, Superintendent of Polk County Public Schools. “Allegations of abuse must always be promptly reported to the proper authorities. Failure to do so is not only illegal, it places our students at risk of further abuse we cannot and will not allow that to happen.”

Police say Sanford declined to speak further with detectives regarding the incident. The Florida Department of Children and Families was notified by detectives. 

Sanford had been with Polk County Public Schools for 15 years and has no other disciplinary action in his file.