First grade teacher fighting her own children to get phone back forces child to protect sibling from her biting: Police

A Tennessee pistillate who works arsenic an simple schoolhouse teacher was accused by her ain children of hurting them, constabulary say.

Heather Pecht, 47, was arrested by Chattanooga Police Department officers connected Friday and charged with 2 counts of child neglect. According to tribunal documents obtained by section quality outlet Chattanoogan.com, Pecht's 2 younger children told their begetter that their parent had allegedly attacked them portion they were successful the car astatine Ruby Falls successful Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, connected Friday. The begetter reportedly noticed healing scratches connected his children's hands and asked them what happened. The children allegedly said that Pecht was liable for their injuries.

According to tribunal documents, Pecht's 2 younger children were successful the backmost spot of the car successful the parking batch astatine Ruby Falls. When Pecht's telephone made its mode to the backmost seat, Pecht reportedly yelled astatine the children to instrumentality her phone. As the children tried to instrumentality the phone, Pecht allegedly pinched and scratched 1 of the children. During the alleged attack, the different kid was bitten by Pecht arsenic helium tried to support his sibling.

The children's father, who lives separately from Pecht, called constabulary erstwhile his children were returned to him. Officers responded to his location connected Friday night, and the begetter told them that helium had reported Pecht's allegedly abusive behaviour successful the past, but thing was ever done. The erstwhile couple's oldest kid lives with the begetter due to the fact that helium "does not privation to beryllium astir his mother," the tribunal documents said.

More from Law&Crime: High schoolhouse subject teacher stabbed her fellow successful the cervix with her earring aft she tried to marque him swallow it: Police

Police said each 3 children told officers that the alleged maltreatment by Pecht had been "happening for years, and occurs astir erstwhile a week." Officers besides noted the aforesaid injuries connected the children that their begetter saw. The begetter and 3 children each sat for interviews with the Child Advocacy Center and provided the aforesaid details. He was granted exigency custody of each 3 children.

Birmingham, Alabama-based ABC affiliate WBMA reported that Pecht is employed arsenic a first-grade teacher astatine Lookout Mountain Elementary School. Hamilton County Schools did not supply a remark connected her employment status.

Pecht was arrested connected Friday and charged with 2 counts of kid neglect. She posted enslaved and is scheduled to look successful tribunal again connected Jan. 27, 2026.