MURFREESBORO – On Tuesday morning at approximately 5:30 a.m., the Murfreesboro Police Department received a report of possible inappropriate conduct concerning an adult male residing in Murfreesboro.

According to Murfreesboro Police Chief Darrell Rowe, the investigation, which was initiated by MPD Captain Chris Sumner and MPD Lieutenant Joe Burgess, led the officers to Greenville and later that same afternoon resulted in warrants being issued for the arrest of twenty-four year old Hertford County Middle School teacher, Joshua Michael Bowen of 507 Vance Street in Murfreesboro.

During the course of the investigation, officers learned that the suspect was in Pennsylvania visiting family and contacted the Pennsylvania State Police who arrested Bowen without incident.

Bowen was charged with the felony crimes of statutory rape of a person who is 13,14, or 15 years old and sexual activity between school personnel and student. He is currently being detained in a Pennsylvania jail awaiting extradition proceedings back to the Murfreesboro jurisdiction.

&uot;As I understand it, Mrs. Porter, Principal of Hertford County Middle School was notified Wednesday morning of the allegations brought against one of her teachers by the Murfreesboro Police Department,&uot; said Hertford County Public School Superintendent Dennis Deloatch.

&uot;Upon receiving this information, she immediately contacted my office to inform me of the situation. Mrs. Porter, as well as myself, are devastated. We do everything we can to ensure the well being of our students.&uot;

Deloatch continued, &uot;This is a very sensitive issue and in dealing with students, especially those that are juveniles, there is very little we can say. Individuals’ rights to confidentiality cannot be violated.&uot;

According to Rowe the alleged misconduct did not occur on school grounds.

&uot;I would like to commend both officers for their quick and professional work,&uot; said Rowe.

&uot;The call was received at 5:30 a.m. and by late that afternoon the suspect was in custody. I would also like to thank the members of the Pennsylvania State Police Department, specifically Corporal Benson who acted quickly and professionally to take the suspect into custody.&uot;

Rowe stated that an investigation is still underway and that officers are continuing to gather additional evidence in the alleged crime.