Parent says principal assaulted son, 13 Student involved in incident suspended for week BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer NORTH BRUNSWICK — A parent of a Linwood Middle School student is alleging that Principal Vincent DeLucia assaulted her son on Friday. Zeppora Hollins filed a compliant of simple assault on Friday afternoon that accused DeLucia of grabbing her son Jermaine, an eighth-grader, around the neck, according to police reports. The mother reported her 13-year-old sustained bruises to his neck as a result of the alleged incident, according to police reports. North Brunswick police Lt. Roger Reinson said the alleged incident took place at around 2:25 p.m. in a main hallway. "Mr. DeLucia was trying to clear the hallways and asked the student to proceed to class," Reinson said. "When the student did not cooperate, the principal called him to come to the office." Reinson said the student walked over to DeLucia and the two exchanged words and then a struggle ensued. "The juvenile became combative with the principal," Reinson said. The parent alleged that DeLucia grabbed her son in the shoulder area at the base of the neck, Reinson said. "She told police that Mr. DeLucia’s actions were not traditional and that he should not have treated her son or any student that way," Reinson said. The parent told police that her son struck DeLucia in the hand and the arm area when the two were locked up in the brief physical altercation, Reinson said. After the scuffle, DeLucia reportedly escorted the student to his office to immediately contact a parent, Reinson said. The parent and student met with Superintendent Dr. Robert Rimmer, members of the Board of Education, and township police on Friday afternoon, Reinson said. The eighth-grader received one week of suspension, Reinson said. Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Rimmer said he could not comment on the matter as a result of the pending investigation and potential litigation. DeLucia did not return calls about the alleged incident. Reinson said the police continued to investigate the allegations this week. The matter will be heard in Municipal Court on April 28. DeLucia, who served as the school’s principal for the last three years, was promoted to the district’s director of staff development and communications in February. He will begin his new job on July 1. Joseph Peter Clark, a former North Brunswick High School assistant principal, will replace DeLucia. DeLucia also served as a selected mayor of South Brunswick Township in the early 1990s.