Md. Teacher Charged With Touching Colleagues

GAITHERSBURG, Md. (AP) -- Montgomery County Police say a middle school science teacher has been arrested on charges of inappropriately touching three female co-workers.

Police say Walter Stafon Bowman was arrested Wednesday morning and charged with three counts of second-degree assault and one count of false imprisonment.

He teaches science at the Briggs Chaney Middle School in Silver Spring. A spokeswoman for the county public school system says Bowman, 37, has been placed on leave.

Police say they began investigating complaints of the improper touching on Monday, including from one employee who accused Bowman of placing her in a bear hug in August.

It wasn't immediately clear if Bowman had a lawyer, and a phone message left at his house was not immediately returned Wednesday.