A 20-year-old Columbia man allegedly struck a Parkade Elementary School playground supervisor in the face yesterday after she asked him to leave school grounds.

Marteen

Christopher Marteen of 232 Clearview Road was later arrested on suspicion of felony assault on school grounds as well as first-degree trespassing. He was released from the Boone County Jail after posting $5,000 bond.

Students were on the playground during an after-lunch recess when Marteen began crossing the lot at about 12:40 p.m., Columbia police Sgt. Roger Allen said.

A part-time playground supervisor asked him to leave, but Marteen ignored her and continued across the playground, eastbound toward Garth Avenue.

When the 46-year-old victim asked him to leave a second time, Marteen turned around and struck her across the left side of her face with the back of his closed fist, Allen said.

The victim suffered a black eye and was treated at University Hospital’s urgent care center, Parkade Principal Betsy Baker said.

Recess continued because the man left the area, Baker said. Parkade staff contacted authorities, and another playground supervisor gave police a detailed description of Marteen.

Police soon caught Marteen at the corner of Range Line Street and Blue Ridge Road. Allen said he was sober and offered no explanation for his actions. "I think he just has a mean streak," Allen said.

School administrators said the playground supervisor handled the situation appropriately.

"She did what she was trained to do: Tell him he needed to leave or check in at the office," Baker said.

Jack Jensen, assistant superintendent of elementary education, said under the same circumstances he would have "done exactly the same thing - try to keep it low-key" while asking the trespasser to move on.

"Schools are public buildings, and we try to interact with the public in a respectful manner," he said.

Deputy Superintendent Jacque Cowherd said Parkade staff did the right thing by calling law enforcement.

Deciding when to notify authorities is a judgment call, he said. "Most of the time, people will move on and it’s no big issue."

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