ATTALLA, Ala. (AP) — Police say an assistant principal in northeast Alabama has been charged with felony child abuse after an investigation into a paddling.

Attalla police Chief Doug Walker tells local media that 32-year-old Nathan Lynn Ayers turned himself in Friday and was released on $5,000 bond. He said the charge followed an investigation into a paddling incident in September at Etowah Middle School.

Once the police investigation was complete, the district attorney’s office recommended that Ayers be arrested.

A number for Ayers couldn’t be located Monday, and it wasn’t immediately clear whether he had a lawyer who could comment on the charge.

Attalla City Schools Superintendent David Bowman told local media the school system is still investigating.