A former Connecticut teacher at a private school has been arrested four times for tickling students.
Nicholas Ricciardi, 47, faces criminal charges related to the incidents, according to PEOPLE. The latest arrest was on July 1, and he was charged with risk of injury to a child.
According to PEOPLE, the investigation began in December 2024 after the Connecticut Department of Children and Families contacted the police regarding a report from the mother of a 6-year-old student.
The complaint alleged that the 6-year-old had been "inappropriately touched by her teacher multiple times while attending the Solomon Schechter Day School," PEOPLE reported.
The school opened an investigation into the incident, and in the course of doing so, a teacher discussed with school officials what they considered to be "red flags," PEOPLE reported.
In one incident, a teacher said they saw Ricciardi "touch the side waistline" of a child and compliment their "cool belt," PEOPLE reported. The teacher also "witnessed Ricciardi tickling children on multiple occasions, but that she believed that tickling to not be of a sexual nature."
PEOPLE reported that after Ricciardi declined to speak with a detective, he was arrested. The outlet reported that Ricciardi was arrested three times all related to incidents that happened on Nov. 24, 2024.
Ricciardi also had been arrested in April and charged with risk of injury to a child and breach of peace. That investigation involved a similar allegation from a different school where Ricciardi worked in 2023.
