Former Willmar Teacher Goes Before The Court For Assault Charges

A former Willmar teacher has been charged with assaulting a student on the last day of the 2016 school year. The alleged assault happened on June 2nd at 1:15 p.m. when according to a criminal complaint that alleges 48-year old Robert Palmer hit a student on the back of the head, then proceeded to grab his arm, and held it behind his back, while holding him against a wall. After a resource officer received a complaint from a juvenile student claiming to have been hit by a teacher the officer reviewed surveillance video with several witnesses, who agreed that the video appeared to show an open-palmed hit to the back of the students head. Palmer resigned from his teaching position in the Willmar High School science department following the end of the school year. Palmer is currently facing a fifth-degree assault charge in Kandiyohi County District Court, a misdemeanor. He made his first court appearance July 20^th . His next hearing is set for August 16. He is currently not in custody.