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Lori Michelle McCombs

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Charges were dismissed today against a Hoover High School physical education teacher arrested in March after allegations surfaced that she manhandled a student.

Lori Michelle McCombs, 46, was arrested March 3 and charged with harassment after a month-long criminal investigation. Hoover police on Jan. 29 were notified of an altercation that happened inside a girls' locker room at Hoover High School.

The incident, said Hoover police Capt. Gregg Rector, happened two days earlier between McCombs and a 14-year-old female student. Both the victim and the witness told police McCombs was upset that the student wasn't getting "dressed out" for PE class fast enough. McCombs grabbed the student by the wrist and pulled her from the locker room into a hallway. The incident was captured on video.

The altercation left noticeable red marks on the girl's arm, Rector said. The student told a parent that afternoon and school officials were notified the following day.

Rector said the police department's Family Services detectives thoroughly investigated the case. Alabama law defines harassment as: A person commits the crime of harassment if, with intent to harass, annoy, or alarm another person, he or she strikes, shoves, kicks, or otherwise touches a person or subjects him or her to physical contact.

Rector said McCombs surrendered to the Hoover City Jail. She was released a short time later after posting $500 bond.

McComb's attorney, Jim Ransom, said at the time of her arrest that she acted within the scope and sequence of her duties as a teacher in the Hoover school system.

"Further, there was another teacher present that witnessed no inappropriate or physical altercation. Hoover City Schools were made aware of the complaint, investigated, and took no adverse employment action against Ms. McCombs. Ms. McCombs is a highly qualified teacher with outstanding credentials, and a stellar history as a teacher. She denies any wrongdoing in this matter," Ransom said.

Hoover school officials have not commented on McComb's arrest. AL.com made a formal, written request to school officials to view any and all videotapes and documents associated with the case, or any previous cases, but were denied those records.

Carl Johnson, a Hoover City Schools attorney, did provide a copy of a disciplinary notice for McCombs on a previous, unrelated incident. She was suspended for 15 work days without pay, from Nov. 10, 2015 through Dec. 8, 2015 related to "the physical altercation that occurred with (redacted) on school property." That incident involved a different student.

Ransom also has declined to comment on that case, but no criminal charges were ever filed.

In the recent case, Ransom filed a motion to dismiss, which was heard today in Hoover Municipal Court.

Charlie Waldrep, Hoover city attorney, argued against dismissing the charges.

"There were other clear alternatives to an inappropriate physical contact," Waldrep wrote in a motion opposing dismissal.

Without taking any testimony, Judge T.B. Bishop ruled: "The facts in this case as depicted on the surveillance video and in the signed statements of witness do not rise to the commission of a crime. The allegations in the complaint are not supported by Alabama Statutes or case law."

"I am so happy for my client," Ransom said. "Judge Bishop was the right judge in this matter. He did the right thing and came to the proper legal conclusion."

"He cited his own years of experience in the law and in education. He properly considered the statutes and cases cited in our motion, and did the right thing,'' Ransom said. "Hoover City Schools had already considered this matter and took no disciplinary action against McCombs. Criminal charges in this matter were ludicrous."