NY Teacher Arrested Amidst 'Timeout Box' Probe

Karrie Haverstock, a 60-year-old special education teacher in New York's Salmon River Central School District, was arrested on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, on charges of child endangerment. Authorities and media reports indicated that the charges are not directly related to the district's ongoing investigation into "timeout boxes" allegedly used to confine young students.

Haverstock's arrest followed accusations from a parent that she had placed their nonverbal daughter in a closet and used toothpicks to poke the child's forehead. This incident allegedly occurred on or around May 16, 2025. Haverstock had previously been placed on leave last year along with other staff members due to allegations concerning the confinement of special needs students in wooden boxes.

An independent investigation by the Salmon River Central School District, which concluded its findings on March 12, 2026, confirmed that two timeout boxes were used for a brief period in November and December 2025. However, the investigators reported finding no evidence of abuse, corporal punishment, or intentional mistreatment. The report did highlight regulatory compliance issues concerning the implementation and documentation of timeout procedures under New York State regulations.

The former school board member who initially shared images of the alleged timeout boxes expressed that the boxes were built for her son, an 8-year-old autistic student. She filed a legal claim against the district in January 2026, alleging violations of her son's civil rights. Haverstock, who previously taught at Salmon River Elementary before transferring, is scheduled to appear in court.