INDIANAPOLIS — An administrator at Roncalli High School, on the Indianapolis south side, faces criminal charges following an incident with a student at the school, earlier this month.

The Marion County Prosecutor announced Friday that 77-year-old Robert Tully has been charged with Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury.

Tully, who is the school's Vice President for Mission and Ministry, allegedly assaulted a 14-year-old male student in the school cafeteria on December 6.

According to a probable cause affidavit from the prosecutor, Tully became upset over spilled food, setting off an altercation with the boy. Tully allegedly told students at the table that he would "make them into a human vacuum" if they didn't clean up the mess.

The 14-year-old told police that Tully grabbed him from behind around the upper chest and neck area and pulled him backwards from the lunch table.

An officer who responded to the incident said he found "two small red scratches and some redness on the left side" of the student's neck. The boy did not need to go to the hospital.

According to the affidavit, at the time of the incident, Tully told police he would give them his side of the story. But when a detective called Tully to set up a time for a statement. he declined, saying his attorney had told him not to speak to police.

In response to Tully being charged, the school issued a statement through the Archdiocese of Indianapolis saying Tully has been and will remain on administrative leave while criminal proceedings continue. "Following the conclusion of the case further action may be taken," according to the school.

