Police say teacher attacked over witch claim

Wed, Oct 8, 2008    to del.icio.us

FERNDALE (AP) — Ferndale police say an adult education student tossed liquid on a teacher because he believed she was a witch who needed to be purified.

Police say Darin Najor, 20, of Ferndale threatened the teacher last month at Taft Education Center a day after confronting her about Arthur Miller's "The Crucible," which focuses on the Salem Witch Trials.

According to Detective Ken Denmark, Najor said he was trying to purify the teacher with holy water. Denmark said Najor also had a lighter and wanted to, in his words, "burn the witch."

Najor is charged with assault and battery and faces an Oct. 23 hearing. He is free on bond.