Bradenton police say they found no evidence Manatee High School staff member was dating student

BRADENTON -- An investigation into allegations a staff member at Manatee High School was dating a student has been closed by police.

The Bradenton Police Department had two detectives at the school Wednesday and one detective Thursday tracking down the rumor.

A 19-year-old student identified and interviewed Thursday denied the rumor.

The investigation was closed since detectives had no more information to go on, said Lt. James Racky, BPD spokesman.

After the rumor was reported and police were contacted, students were randomly interviewed.

The basis of the rumor was sketchy, Racky said before the investigation was closed.

"Right now it's just a rumor and we're investigating to see where the rumor came from," Racky said. "We were given no names, no suspects, no victims. There's no factual basis at this time."

Racky added a time frame wasn't given on the rumored offense, either.

Manatee County School District officials were aware of the rumor and the investigation, district officials confirmed Thursday. District officials contacted the police after the school district was informed of the rumor.

"The School District immediately notified Child Protective Services as well as the Bradenton Police Department," staff attorney Mitchell Teitelbaum said in a statement.

The Bradenton Police Department and the school district share the cost to employ two full-time school resource officers at the school. Manatee High is the only high school in the district with two SROs. The rest have one.

Meghin Delaney, education reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7081. Follow her on Twitter@MeghinDelaney.

This story was originally published February 18, 2016 at 10:49 PM with the headline "Bradenton police say they found no evidence Manatee High School staff member was dating student ."