UPDATE: Accused child abuser is a 4th-grade teacher.

Ruble

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By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.

HART — The 37-year-old Mount Pleasant man who allegedly “dragged his 5-year-old adopted son into Silver Lake and forcibly held his head under water repeatedly,” in front of a crowd of beach goers last week is a fourth-grade teacher for Mount Pleasant Public Schools.

Jeremy L. Ruble was arraigned in 78th District Court this week on one count of second-degree child abuse and one count of fourth-degree child abuse stemming from the incident.

“I just received communication a couple hours ago,” said Mount Pleasant Public Schools Superintendent Michael Pung. The superintendent could not comment in detail about the case, but

stated that the district is “working with legal counsel” and is “using administrative policies and guidelines” to deal with the matter. Pung said he will work with the school board before making any decisions. “It’s unfortunate,” he said. Pung did not have immediate information regarding how long Ruble has been a teacher in the district, but said Ruble has been teaching there a number of years. According to the district’s website, Ruble teaches at Vowles Elementary School.

An Oceana County Deputy was dispatched to the Silver Lake State Park day-use swimming area in Golden Township last Wednesday afternoon to investigate a possible case of child abuse. “Upon arrival there, the deputy found that a crowd of people had witnessed a 37-year-old Mount Pleasant man drag his 5-year-old adopted son into Silver Lake and forcibly hold his head under water repeatedly,” stated Lt. Craig Mast of the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office.

“Several civilians who witnessed it then stepped forward and intervened in an effort to ensure the child wasn’t harmed,” Mast said.