SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Tuscaloosa, AL — A 31-year-old teacher at Hillcrest High School was arrested Thursday following a violent crimes investigation into allegations of sexual contact with a student. Tyler Miguel Armistad now faces felony charges of first-degree sexual abuse and school employee sexual contact with a student.
The Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit launched an investigation on Wednesday after receiving reports of improper contact on the high school campus. According to court depositions, the incident escalated that afternoon when Armistad summoned a female student to his classroom.
Charging documents reveal a pattern of grooming and harassment leading up to the arrest. The victim reported that Armistad had a history of sending her unsolicited direct messages on Instagram and frequently poking or grabbing her during school hours. On the day of the incident, records state Armistad poked the student multiple times while he was on the phone. When a male student briefly entered the room, Armistad allegedly handed the victim a note telling her to go to the bathroom until the other student left.
Once the room was vacant, investigators say Armistad shut the door, pinned the student against furniture, and began kissing her. Despite her attempts to push him away, the physical contact continued. The victim was able to provide authorities with audio evidence of the encounter, which she recorded secretly from her pocket.
Captain Jack Kennedy stated that Armistad refused to be interviewed by detectives before his arrest. While the school has not released a formal statement regarding his employment status, Armistad is known to have taught in the Tuscaloosa area for several years.
Authorities are now asking anyone with additional information or potential victims to contact the Violent Crimes Unit at 205-464-8690.