Assault charge against Haverford School headmaster dropped

MEDIA, Pa. (WTXF/AP) - The misdemeanor simple assault has been dropped in the case of the Haverford School's headmaster who allegedly assaulted his son at their Haverford home.

The prestigious, private all-boys school put Dr. John Nagl on administrative leave after police charged him earlier this month.

Thursday morning, Delaware County District Attorney John Whelan put out a statement saying, "In reviewing the case in its entirety, including affidavits, witness statements, additional evidence and personal interviews, although there was probable cause for the police to (conduct) this arrest, we believe there is insufficient evidence to proceed with the prosecution of this case. Therefore, we are withdrawing the charge filed on Oct.10, 2016, and closing the file."

According to court papers, the father and son had gotten into a fight after Nagl took the boy's cell phone away as punishment for finding marijuana in his backpack. Court documents indicated Nagl's son initiated a physical altercation and the dad responded by putting the boy in a chokehold to "end the altercation quickly."

The school's board chairman William C. Yoh put out this statement:

"The Delaware County District Attorney's Office has withdrawn the charge filed last week against Dr. Nagl.

"The Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet early next week to fairly and deliberately assess the situation in light of this new development.

"We appreciate our community's continued focus on the well-being of our boys and our shared responsibility of preparing boys for life."