Covington Principal Arrested in School Safety Violation Probe Prompting Immediate Administrative Leave
Kennewick, Washington — Covington Elementary School Principal, Dr. Sandra K. Morrison, was arrested Friday afternoon at her residence following a three-month investigation by the Kennewick Police Department and the Benton County Prosecutor's Office. The arrest was executed without incident at 3:47 p.m. at a residence in the 1200 block of West 10th Avenue. Morrison faces two counts of Official Misconduct and one count of Failure to Report a Safety Hazard, according to a criminal complaint filed in Benton County Superior Court. Investigators allege the principal knowingly failed to address a documented structural deficiency in a classroom ceiling, which collapsed six weeks later, injuring a fourth-grade student. The condition had been reported to Morrison by custodial staff on three separate occasions, with the most recent report occurring on January 22. Morrison was processed at the Kennewick Police Department and is currently being held at the Benton County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail. The Kennewick School District Board has placed her on immediate administrative leave, pending the outcome of the judicial proceedings. The injured student, identified as 9-year-old Elias Tran, was treated at Kadlec Regional Medical Center for a concussion and remains in stable condition at home. This case has drawn national attention following parent-led demonstrations outside the school on Tuesday. Authorities have not released any further details, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday at 9:00 a.m.