Riverdale cops: Teacher urinated in trash can during class

By Mike Morris

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A substitute teacher at Riverdale Elementary School was arrested Wednesday for allegedly exposing himself and urinating into a trash can inside a classroom of fourth-graders.

Coleman Eaton Jr., 60, was charged with two counts of aggravated child molestation and was being held on $55,400 bond Thursday in the Clayton County Jail.

“It was alleged that he walked to the back of the class, told the class not to turn around and allegedly urinated in one of the garbage cans in the back,” Riverdale police Major Greg Barney told the AJC.

“A couple of students turned around and observed him using the restroom in the garbage can,” Barney said. “One of the students went to the office after that and made the complaint.”

Barney said officers went to the school and interviewed the students and Eaton, then placed him under arrest.

Barney did not know how long Eaton had been employed by the school system but said, “I hear a long time. I believe this was his first time working at that school, but he’s been with the system for a while.”

"The district is investigating the incident," Clayton schools spokesman Charles White told the AJC Thursday. "Due to the open investigation, it is inappropriate to offer further comment."

Barney said Eaton had not given investigators  a reason for his alleged conduct.

“He did not admit doing it, but we do have evidence that he did it,” Barney said, referring to the trash can allegedly used by Eaton.