Probable cause affidavit shares disturbing details in sexual misconduct case of Elkhart teacher Donald Shafer

54-year-old Donald Shafer is a social studies teacher at West Side Middle school in Elkhart.

In the document, it states a Goshen police officer was doing a routine overnight patrol at Shanklin Park when he noticed a car parked with the windows fogged up.

When he approached the car, the officer writes he found the Elkhart teacher with a teenage boy, noting that the boy appeared scared.

At first, when the officer asked Shafer what they were doing, Shafer allegedly said they were "just talking" about the teen having problems at school.

Shafer claimed the two met at multiple school functions, specifically "basketball."

After further questioning, the affidavit says Shafer changed his story, saying they connected on the dating app "Grindr." Grindr is a free dating app for the LGBTQ+ community. The age requirement to use Grindr is 17, the teenager is not old enough to use the app.

When the officer questioned if they met to hook up, Shafer allegedly told the officer yes and that he performed a sexual act on the boy, according to the affidavit.

When you arrive at Shanklin Park, you will see a large pile of snow in the parking lot near the basketball court. Jorge Gaspar was at Shanklin Park around 8 a.m. On Wednesday and says behind that pile of snow is a parking spot where Shafer's car was parked.

Gaspar shared that he saw a police car parked and facing Shafer's car. He says initially, he thought the police might have been doing training since he did not see any police tape. He then learned what actually took place.

"It's super hidden. That snowbank is pretty big, kind of hard to see from the road but I mean this guy really thought this through and it's pretty sick. Especially knowing what he does, being a teacher and all that I mean, it's just nasty," Gaspar shared.

ABC57 asked around Elkhart to find anyone who knows Shafer but didn't find anyone wanting to talk. We did find Naomi Sandusky, a mom of two.

Though her kids aren't in middle school yet, she tells us as a mom, there is a never-ending fear for her children when they're away from her.

"I worry every day that there's something going on at the schools, because you just never know anymore."

When the district was contacted by police on Wednesday, they say Shafer was put on paid administrative leave for " violating our district's policy regarding inappropriate conduct with a student."

Shafer's name remains on the West Side Middle School website under staff directory.

In a statement to ABC 57, the district says they are "now cooperating with the police department in its investigation."

Shafer is in the Elkhart County Jail. Donald Shafer faces preliminary charges of:

• Child seduction
• Sexual misconduct with a minor
• Child solicitation
• Child exploitation

Shafer is being held without bond. His court hearing will be Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. At the Elkhart County Jail courrtroom.