MILLBRAE, Calif. – A California police department is feeling the heat after a local news investigation revealed officials were tipped off about an inappropriate lesbian relationship between a student and teacher in October, but did failed to put an end to the extracurricular antics.

Police arrested Taylor Middle School drama teacher Heather Amanda Butts after she was found “engaged in inappropriate behavior” with a female student inside of a parked vehicle on Santa Helena Avenue in San Bruno Aug. 17, the San Francisco Examiner reports.

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According to the news site:

San Bruno police said the department learned of the relationship after a caller tipped them off about 5:40 p.m. Monday that Butts was “engaged in inappropriate behavior” inside a vehicle parked on Santa Helena Avenue in San Bruno.

An ABC 7 News investigation this week revealed officials with the school and police agencies had been well aware of the alleged relationship since at least October, when the student’s father reported suspected sexual abuse to the Millbrae Police.

Millbrae Police, which are overseen by the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, reportedly interviewed the parent, the alleged victim, as well as other students. They also collected screen shots of text messages and social media messages between the Butts and her student, and police allegedly told the girl’s father they would follow up with the school.

In February, the father reported the inappropriate behavior to the school’s dean of students himself when he heard nothing more from police, according to the news site.

“He says the administrator told him the school district was aware of the police report,” which left the father wondering why school officials hadn’t suspended the teacher, ABC 7 News reports.

“That teacher should have been removed from the classroom,” retired school principal Ernistine Forcum told the news site.

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“Something is going on here,” retired teacher Kathleen Papperta opined. “Covering it up for political reasons of some sort.”

San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office officials confirmed in an email to ABC 7 News that the two reports of an inappropriate relationship between Butts and the student – when the father went to police, and when he followed up with school officials – “were not investigated as expected” nor were they “conducted in a timely manner.”

Now the sheriff’s office is investigating both the original complaint as well as the apparent lapses.

“I’m disappointed the investigation was not completed in a timely manner and it does not reflect the level of service we routinely provide the residents of Millbrae or the communities we serve,” Sheriff Carlos Bolanos said.

San Bruno Police are investigating the teacher’s alleged tryst in its jurisdiction and ABC 7 News confirmed the department received reports pertaining to the original investigation.

School district officials, meanwhile, are refusing to discuss the case.

Superintendent Vahn A. Phayprasert told the news site the case is “complicated” and a confidential personnel issue.