Former teacher arrested on risk of injury charge

CANTERBURY, Conn. (WTNH) — A former teacher at a Canterbury middle school has been arrested in an investigation into a possible inappropriate relationship with a teenage student.

"I have a daughter in that school that's heading up into the upper grades and I didn't want him anywhere near her," said Christine Bright.

Thirty-year-old Erik Anderson is now out of a job and under arrest.

Bright was one of several parents who say they witnessed inappropriate behavior between Anderson and a Dr. Helen D. Baldwin Middle School student, a 14-year-old girl, on an eighth grade trip.

"We saw hand holding and there was a lot of texting going on," said Bright, "constant texting that he was kind of hiding from us."

Bright says they just felt something wasn't right.

"I mean we were sick to our stomachs knowing this could go on in our school, and also that we were going to have to charge somebody with this," Bright said.

News 8 left a voicemail for Anderson. Bright believes because they took action the relationship didn't escalate.

Anderson is charged with risk of injury to a minor.

"He kind of blamed it on the girl and just that she was chasing him and he didn't know how to handle it," Bright said, "but that's not what was happening."

Anderson taught art at the middle school, but he also coached the girls soccer team and the basketball team.

News 8 caught up with one of his former players and students, and she was also shocked by the allegations.

"I just couldn't believe that he would do that and I knew that girl too," said Aubry Crandall, of Canterbury, "and it's hard to believe he'd be around all us girls for soccer and basketball and we never had the slightest hint of this going on."

Crandall says Anderson was a good teacher and taught them to be creative.

"Just couldn't believe he did that," said Crandall. "We know he had kids and a wife."

Anderson resigned from his job over the summer as State Police and DCF began their investigation in June.