Updated to include statement of charges
The Rockville City Police Department has announced that charges have been filed against Ritchie Park Elementary School Principal Andrew Winter for a February incident involving a student.
According to Rockville Police, “On February 9, 2024, the Rockville City Police Department became aware of an alleged assault on a student by a staff member at Ritchie Park Elementary School. During a joint investigation by the Rockville City Police Department and the Montgomery County State’s Attorneys Office, the suspect was identified as Andrew Winter, 54, the school’s principal.
On June 3, 2024, an arrest warrant issued by a District Court Commissioner for one count of Second-Degree Assault. Winter turned himself in at the Central Processing Unit, where he will have an initial appearance before a District Court Commissioner.”
Tracy Tibbs is currently listed as the acting principal at the school. We have reached out to MCPS regarding Andrew Winter’s current employment status. The statement of charges is available below, shared via X by Ben Dennis:
“On 02/09/24, around 1300 hours, Rockville City Police received a call for an assault at the Richie Park Elementary School (RPES) located at 1514 Dunster Road, Rockville, Montgomery County, MD 20850, involving the principal, Andrew Winter (DOB: 02/01/1970), and a student who will be referred to as “Student 1.” This report was later forwarded and assigned to Rockville City Police Criminal Investigations Unit Detective R. McEvoy for follow-up. It was determined that the incident took place during the school lunch hour and captured on school video footage.
Detective McEvoy reviewed the school video of the incident and observed the following: The camera was almost directly over where the incident took place and clearly showed Principal Winter wearing a green football jersey with his last name on the back. Student 1 can be seen standing close to the principal. The room was filled with other students moving about. Principal Winter and Student 1 were conversing until Principal Winter grabbed Student I by their clothing, physically sitting them down on a nearby bench which was attached to a long rectangle table. Principal Winter, who was now standing over Student 1, looks down at Student 1 before he lifted his left foot and stomped it on Student 1’s right foot causing them to immediately start weeping. As Student 1, continues to weep. Principal Winter sat down on the bench next to the victim and put his arm around the victim’s shoulders.
Two students witnessed the assault and reported it to their teacher, the teacher then reported the information to the assistant principal.
The assistant principal contacted police. Rockville City Police responded to RPES and met with Student 1 and their father. Police interviewed Student 1 who stated that Principal Winter stomped on their foot.
Based on the facts and information above, Detective R. McEvoy charges Andrew Winter with the following: Assault – Second Degree [1_1415 / CR 3-203]
All events occurred in Montgomery County, Maryland.”
