South Gate Teacher Charged with Sexual Molestation

Kip Arnold, 51, who recently served as an physical education teacher at Southeast Middle School, has been charged with multiple counts of sexually molesting an underage girl. 

Arnold, who recently led officers on a police chase Tuesday, swerved his pickup truck over an embankment at Rolling Hill Estates.  He crashed his car crashed into a building 70 feet below and still hospitalized from the impact.

Police have said Arnold claimed to be suicidal prior to his attempted escape.

Ty Henshaw, of the city of Bell Police Department, when recounting the event to the media.  

Police attempted to arrest him at that moment, but Arnold managed to get into his vehicle, at his Lakewood residence, and attempted to flee.

Arnold is suspected of having had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl between the months of June and September 2005. The supposed victim, who is now an adult, recently came forward with the allegations to authorities.

Arnold is being charged with three counts of a lewd act on a child, two counts of oral copulation with a minor, for one count of penetration with a foreign object, as well another count of evading a police officer, according to Deputy District Attorney Diana Martinez.

The accused also faces up to 7 years in state prison if convicted of all charges. Prosecutors have said that they will ask bail to be set at $1 million.

According to KTLA, another alleged victim has come forward and is being interviewed by police. 

Arnold will have his arraignment when he is released from the hospital.

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