Crime & Safety

Middletown Teacher's Relationship With 17-Year-Old Girl Under Investigation

Patrick Aylward, a Middletown Public School teacher, is under investigation for his relationship with a 17-year-old Middletown girl

OUTSIDE NEWPORT, RI -- A 39-year-old Middletown teacher's relationship with a 17-year-old Middletown girl is under investigation, said Middletown Superintendent Rosemarie Kraeger. 

Patrick Aylward, of 9 Nancy St., Fall River, MA, has been placed on paid leave during the investigation.

"The Middletown Police Department is conducting an investigation involving Mr. Aylward stemming from an incident which occurred in Fall River on Feb. 5, 2013," said Lt. Robert Nutt with the Middletown Police Department. "The investigation began after we were contacted by the Fall River Police Department."

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The incident reportedly was a disturbance with the girl at Aylward's house on Nancy Street in Fall River.

On Feb. 16, Aylward allegedly got into an argument with the girl at the Founder's Brook Motel in Portsmouth. During the argument, he allegedly headbutted her in the parking lot. Police said the girl had visible swelling on her forehead.  On March 14 he plead not guilty to charges of simple domestic assault and was issued a no contact order. 

The girl told police Alyward was occasionally violent with her, and had punched her in the stomach and threw a vase at her.

Alyward reportedly has rented a room at Founder's Brook Motel many times since last fall, paid cash and said the room was for two people. 

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Last July, Middletown police responded to a domestic argument between Aylward and a 17-year-old girl at the Comfort Inn motel on Aquidneck Avenue. Aylward reportedly told police he was a mentor-figure for the girl.

She told police she had broken up with her boyfriend and had asked Aylward for a ride. She reportedly became upset because Aylward was not consoling her. Police said she yelled and threw things inside his truck. She told police their relationship was platonic. No arrests were made at that time.

A pre-trial conference is scheduled for March 28.

updated on March 15 at 11:00 a.m.


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