District 20 high school teacher arrested

A Colorado Springs science teacher is under the microscope following allegations of a sexual relationship with one of his students.

Police arrested Bryan Paul Mertz, 40, for an alleged sexual relationship with a student.

Mertz was a science teacher at Air Academy High School for the last 12 years according to a school District 20 spokesperson.

Nanette Anderson said the police investigation was launched following a tip from a student to a school resource officer about a relationship between Mertz and the student.

“We have the program Safe 2 Tell that encourages students to come forward if they know about a situation that is dangerous for themselves or others,” said Mertz.

Anderson said Mertz dealt with students between grades 9 – 12.

Mertz was arrested Wednesday but he bonded out of jail.

The school district said this is the first time Mertz had been accused of anything like this and want to assure parents that the proper safety measures were taken.

“(Mertz) would not have been hired if he had not passed a background check,” said Anderson with D-20.

Police, though, said Mertz may have tried the same thing with students in the past. They want to hear from anyone with information about Mertz and inappropriate relationships. Call Colorado Springs Police at 444-7000 or Pikes Peak Area Crime Stoppers 634-STOP (7867.)