DETROIT (WWJ) - A strange allegation against a Dearborn Public Schools teacher have come to light after she allegedly assaulted a Wayne County Republican Committee chairwoman last weekend at a Tudor Dixon rally in Detroit.
Cheryl Costantino claims she was bit on the arm by the female teacher at the rally held at Armando's last Saturday on Oct. 30.
The teacher’s name has not been released and no charges have been filed yet, but a spokesman for DPS confirmed to Press and Guide that she does work as a special education teacher in the district.
Witnesses at the event say the alleged attacker was there by herself and appeared to want to disrupt the rally.
Costantino told Press and Guide that she first encountered the woman holding up a Gretchen Whitmer sign as she was standing near the stage.
Constantino described the woman's behavior as "chaotic" and was worried she would hurt someone or go after the speakers, which included Dixon, her running mate Shane Hernandez and former Democratic presidential hopeful Tulsi Gabbard.
Costantino said she tried to block the woman's path to the stage and lead her away when the woman began assaulting her.
“She bit me, just reached over and bit me, and it felt like she pinched me too, and she left a bruise, some little bruises and one big bruise,” Costantino said to Press and Guide. “And she was slapping all these guys, and this guy was just trying to guide her out and ask her to leave, and she refused to leave, and she kept saying, ‘I have a ticket!’”
Linda Sawyer told WXYZ that she saw the entire encounter and later confronted the woman after she kicked her out of the rally.
"I was exiting and she was still by the door and I went to her and I said, 'You bit Cheryl' and she said, "Yeah, well,'" Sawyer said. "Like she was proud of it."
Costantino filed a police report with the Detroit Police Department, who say they are actively investigating the incident.
Dearborn Public Schools released a statement to WXYZ stating they are also looking into the allegations.
“The Dearborn Public Schools is in the process of conducting an investigation to gather all the facts associated with this alleged incident and determine if there were any violations of board policy.”
Costantino told WXYZ that the situation is even more bizarre because she is a teacher herself and no one should resort to physical violence.
"I don't understand who would trust someone like that with their children and why would a school open themselves up to liability by keeping an employee who would act like that," Costantino said.