BEACHWOOD – A parent caused a disturbance at Beachwood Elementary School after he refused to take his child out of school for COVID-19 exposure. However, the father is denying the allegations.
The Beachwood Police Department released a statement regarding the incident that occurred on October 6 at the school regarding a parent and his child.
According to the statement, the School Resource Officer Meissner received a phone call from a noticeably upset front office administrative assistant at the Beachwood Elementary School about a male parent who had entered the school unauthorized.
The assistant explained how the man was screaming at school employees in the front office demanding to speak with the Vice Principal, ultimately causing a disturbance inside of the school while school was in session.
The man, identified as John Wehrle, kept shouting that he was “was not taking his son out of the school,” the statement said.
This behavior began after Wehrle received a phone call from the school nurse explaining why he needed to take his son home, police said. The nurse attempted to tell Wehrle that his son was exposed to COIVD-19 positive person and needed to pick him up at school, but he kept interrupting and talking over her, the nurse said.
As per Toms River Regional Schools Covid-19 policies and NJDOH recommendations, any child exposed to COVID-19 must be picked up from school and be in quarantine for a specific amount of time.
After hearing this, Wehrle told the nurse he was going to come down to the school to “get some answers” while still stating that he refused to pick up his child.
Wehrle was eventually escorted out of the building and approached by Meissner asking him how he could further help him.
When Wehrle stated again that he refused to take home his soon, Meissner advised him that he would have to call the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (formerly known as DYFS) if Werhle would not take custody of his child being that there was no parent or guardian willing to. After this, Wehrle agreed to take his child and left the premises.
Meissner stated that his comment towards contacting that DCP&P was solely made due to the fact that Wehrle said numerous times that he would not be taking his child out of school, therefore leaving his child in the care of school staff.
The Beachwood Police Department are reminding the public that the department and Toms River School System must adhere to the State of New Jersey Executive Orders issued by Governor Murphy and the rules that govern them.
“We please ask that you remain patient through this difficult time for all of us. We understand the frustrations many of you have with the rules that are currently in place but we as a department, school district, and parents must work together to navigate through this difficult time,” Beachwood Police said.
However, Wehrle told Jersey Shore Online after the news broke that what the school and the police are saying is not entirely accurate.
Wehrle said “I never refused to pick my son up. I was at the school to pick him up. Over the phone I told the nurse if they couldn’t answer how he was exposed or when how do we even know he was and needs to be picked up. I ended the phone call with I’m on my way I’ll be there in 20 minutes. Then I showed up and said I would like some answers to my questions. As to where it happened and when. They refused. Then claimed I’m refusing to pick my son up. While I’m literally there to pick him up.”
