MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A teacher at Olson Middle School in Minneapolis is behind bars and accused of soliciting a minor for sex.
Social studies teacher Joel Fowler, 23, was arrested by St. Paul Police early Tuesday afternoon.
According to St. Paul Police, Fowler was arrested after showing up in St. Paul looking to hook up with an underage girl. That girl was an undercover police officer.
According to the arrest report, Fowler was taken into custody in St. Paul’s Central District. Police are not giving up the exact location of the bust, but WCCO has been told his arrest is part of an ongoing investigation in an effort to address crimes of this nature in St. Paul.
Police have indicated that the employee’s arrest is not linked to any students and did not take place on MPS property.
“I got girls and we send them to school every day,” said Rachael Canada.
Canada has a daughter in seventh grade at Olson Middle School. She has another daughter that will start there in the fall.
Although she knows Fowler’s troubles do not involve students, she still has concerns about her daughter’s safety.
“They haven’t called and told us anything we haven’t heard anything,” Canada said.
Now, Fowler is on administrative leave. Minneapolis Public Schools is working with Olson Middle School administrators to let parents know the situation surrounding Fowler’s absence.
The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office has until noon Thursday to formally charge Fowler for soliciting a minor.
