Crawford High teacher arrested for alleged sex crime

SAN DIEGO  —  A Crawford High School teacher was arrested Thursday on suspicion of engaging in an unlawful sexual act with a student, San Diego police said.

The Spanish teacher, Toni Nicole Sutton, 37, was escorted from the Colts Way campus in El Cerrito around 2:30 p.m. after the student’s parent called police.

The parent had found inappropriate communication between the minor and Sutton, who is a friend of the family, police said.

Detectives questioned Sutton and found evidence that led to her arrest.

Police said detectives were following up on leads and evidence that could lead to more charges.

Crawford High parents received Thursday evening a recorded call from the principal, Richard Lawrence, informing them that Sutton, whom he did not name, would be replaced “as quickly as possible.”

“The teacher has been put on leave and will not be returning to campus,” he said.

Lawrence did not disclose details about the incident to parents, citing state and federal laws regarding employee privacy.