NJ substitute teacher arrested after allegedly masturbating in front of students

According to PIX11, Nutley police arrested 58-year-old Richard Dunn on Tuesday following an investigation that tied him to two separate incidents that occurred in the classroom.

Police say that the first incident that was reported to authorities occurred on March 11 at Nutley High School. An investigation later discovered a second incident that occurred on February 1 at a middle school.

Police did not provide details into the behavior they described as "inappropriate."

Parents told PIX11 that they were told by students that attended a media class where Dunn was allegedly masturbating at his desk.

"You know, you send your kid to school every day and you think at least for those eight hours that they're safe," one mother told the outlet.

"Why was he still allowed in the school if there was something that happened before. This —couldn't that have been prevented? Like, don’t our kids deserve better?" Another mother said.

Video of the incident was shared on social media, causing outrage amongst parents. This clip reportedly became part of the investigation.

In a statement announcing Dunn’s arrest, Nutley’s Public Safety Director insisted that authorities acted quickly, saying "protecting the children, and the residents of this community is our number one concern. When police are called upon to investigate allegations as serious as the ones reported last week, we prioritize our efforts to ensure no one is at risk."

According to PIX11, it remains unclear whether the school district knew about the first incident, but they surmise that was how Dunn was allowed to return to the classroom last week.

In a statement to the outlet, a district spokesperson said it "will provide counseling and support services for students and staff, as needed, throughout the district."