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

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, 2012," said Lt. Robert Nutt with the Middletown Police Department. "The investigation began after we were contacted by the Fall River Police Department."

On Feb. 16, he 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 obtained an affidavit arrest warrant and Aylward turned himself in at the police station on March 9. He was charged with domestic, simple assault.

Last July,  Middletown police responded to a domestic argument between Aylward and a 17-year-old girl at the Comfort Inn motel on Aquidneck Ave. 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.