CLEVELAND — Cleveland Police are investigating the circumstances that led to more than 200 students being airdropped a sex video involving a teacher at the Ginn Academy.
RELATED: More local coverage from WKYC
According to a police report, officers responded on Feb. 15 to a complaint regarding a sex video involving a teacher and her boyfriend that had been sent to students. Upon being contacted, the teacher said she had heard rumors that the video, which was on her personal cellphone, had been shared but told police she was not the one to share it.
Officials say the video was sent out on Feb. 7 and airdropped to students in the school who have iPhones, which accounts for more than 200 students. There were four to five other videos sent out, but it remains unclear what was contained on each video. Only one of the videos sent is believed to contain content of a sexual nature.
The matter is being investigated by the Cleveland Police Sex Crimes Unit. In a statement to 3News, the Ginn Academy confirmed that the teacher has been removed from the school while officials investigate.
"We don't comment on personnel matter," school officials said. "We can, however, confirm that a teacher has been removed from Ginn Academy and is not working with students pending the outcome of an investigation."
How could hundreds of students receive those videos if it wasn't the teacher who sent them? Is it possible the incident could have been a mistake?
"If somebody were to have access to an unattended phone, its fairly easy to capture someone's passcode," Alex Hamerstone of TrustedSec Cyber Security told us. "If someone has bad intentions, the first thing they'll do when they get access to your phone is look through your pictures, look to see if you have a private folder and see what's in there, or look at text messages and try to find something inappropriate."
The Cleveland Metropolitan School District declined further comment when reached by 3News. However
A spokesperson for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District confirmed to 3News the teacher has been removed from Ginn Academy as of Feb. 15 and is no longer working with students pending an ongoing sex crime investigation. CMSD declined to comment further.
"Our collective bargaining agreement with the district provides for a process that protects our members, the district, and students when accusations are made involving members," the Cleveland Teachers Union said in a statement. "We will work with our member and the district through this process.
More Cleveland coverage:
- Chris Rock coming to Cleveland with "Ego Death" world tour
- FORECAST | Weather Reality Check Arrives Late Tonight
- Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb endorses Rep. Shontel Brown for reelection to Congress
- Dad-themed Little Free Libraries unveiled in Northeast Ohio as part of NBA All-Star festivities
- Cleveland mom faces judge on child endangering charge weeks after infant son's death
- Here's why the I-X Indoor Amusement Park isn't opening in 2022