Neighbors of the second Miramonte teacher arrested on suspected lewd conduct with students described him Friday as a quiet guy.
Martin Springer, 49, moved into the house in Alhambra after his mother died.
One longtime neighbor who remembered playing with Springer when they were children said he never knew Springer could be capable of doing something like that.
Gabriel Urrutia, who lives two doors away, admitted he was shocked by the case, noting lots of children play in the streets of the quiet neighborhood.
Urrutia’s wife said she didn’t even know Springer was a teacher.
Neighbors said Springer only moved back into the neighborhood two years ago.
"I never saw him with children," Urrutia said. "It was always him by himself."
Local
Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.
And high school student Jenny Yeung, another neighbor, said the whole matter was scarey "because you think that teachers are supposed to protect you."
Springer has only been arrested. He has not yet been charged with any crime.
Follow NBCLA for the latest LA news, events and entertainment: Twitter: @NBCLA // Facebook: NBCLA