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Bakersfield teacher files wrongful arrest claim after being accused of child sex crime<\/p>\n
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) \u2014 A teacher with the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District was arrested in April on suspicion of committing a child sex crime. Last month, she filed a claim against the city of Bakersfield, saying she was arrested for a crime she didn\u2019t commit.<\/p>\n
Kimberly Gardiner Tull<\/a>, 45, was arrested April 2 on suspicion of engaging in lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14, according to the Bakersfield Police Department.<\/p>\n Tull was \u201cfalsely and wrongfully arrested\u201d for false allegations involving her 7-year-old son, according to a claim filed Oct. 1. The claim said Tull was looking to seek over $20,000 for damages and losses.<\/p>\n Hundreds grieve their loved ones at Crime Victims\u2019 Rights March and Memorial Dedication Thursday <\/a><\/p>\n The investigation was returned to Bakersfield police two days after Tull\u2019s arrest with no charges filed due to a lack of evidence, the Kern County District Attorney\u2019s Office spokesperson Joseph Kinzel told 17 News.<\/p>\n BPD spokesperson Sally Selby confirmed the case has been closed.<\/p>\n On the morning of April 2, Tull saw a mark or bruise on her youngest son\u2019s neck and asked what happened, but her son said he didn\u2019t know or remember anything. She asked if it hurt and he said it didn\u2019t, saying he wanted to go to school, the claim said.<\/p>\n Tull dropped off her sons \u2014 ages 10 and 7 \u2014 at Old River Elementary School before going to work at Leo B. Hart Elementary School.<\/p>\n That afternoon, Tull went to Old River to pick up her children and was met by the principal who took her into the school office, according to the claim.<\/p>\n Tull was told she was being brought in to speak with police.<\/p>\n Three officers questioned Tull about the mark at the school, saying they believed it was a hickey because her son allegedly said Tull kissed him on the neck. She was arrested after over two hours of being questioned, the claim said.<\/p>\n According to the filing, Tull suffered severe trauma and damage to her personal and professional life after the arrest.<\/p>\n The claim said Tull lost her teaching position and began seeing mental health professionals for anxiety, depression, panic attacks and other psychological and emotional issues.<\/p>\n She received numerous threats via social media and had her address and photos of her sons posted online, the claim said. Friends and family living out of state contacted Tull after seeing news coverage about her arrest.<\/p>\n Tull\u2019s two children were removed from her home and only returned May 28, according to the filing.<\/p>\n Tull was a special day class teacher and mild\/moderate education specialist for PBVUSD and had been teaching for the school district since August of 2012, the claim said.<\/p>\n