By Rich Larson
In a letter to the families of the Northfield School District this morning, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann said that a former Northfield teacher, Katie Hanson, has been charged with two felony counts of electronic communication of sexually explicit materials to children. According to the criminal complaint, Ms. Hanson, while employed as a teacher at Northfield Middle School, sent sexually explicit pictures of herself to several Northfield High School students.
Dr. Hillmann also reported that former Northfield Policeman and Student Resource Officer (SRO) Gabriel Crombie has been charged with one felony count of aiding an offender to avoid arrest (harbor or conceal).
Various reports say Ms. Hanson allegedly sent images to no less than six high school students, at least one of whom was 15 at the time, and asked for images in return. When this was reported to Officer Crombie, he took no action telling investigators that he could find no evidence of wrongdoing, and that he did not believe Ms. Hanson’s accusers.
Hanson told investigators that she and Crombie had been involved romantically.
After Officer Crombie resigned from the Northfield Police Department last August, the succeeding SRO investigated the allegations, which led to the criminal charges.
Ms. Hanson was placed on paid administrative leave in December and resigned from the school district two days later.
Hillmann called Hanson and Crombie’s alleged behavior “appalling and completely unacceptable,” adding that “the district takes all allegations seriously and that student safety is a top priority at Northfield Public Schools.”
Northfield Chief of Police Jeff Schroepfer and Superintendent Hillmann will appear on KYMN’s Rich & Ryan in the morning program at 8:40 tomorrow (Friday) morning to discuss the allegations.
Rich Larson is the owner and General Manager of KYMN Radio. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
