A member of the Paterson Board of Education is facing a claim of sexual assault, but the woman hasn't filed charges as of Friday.

In a police report, a co-worker accuses Theodore Best Jr. of grabbing her as she walked down a stairwell in a Spruce Street building. The woman has asked police to investigate the incident.

Best didn't return calls for comment.

Joseph Atallo, a member of the Board of Education, calls it only an allegation and stressed that Best is innocent until proven guilty.

"Based on the police report, this is serious and needs to be investigated," Atallo says.

The woman making the complaint was not available to comment on camera.

The New Jersey Community Development Corporation, where Best works, says in a statement that it is conducting an independent investigation.

"We are dealing seriously and appropriately with the allegation that has been made. As this is a personnel matter, we cannot disclose any information," Staci White, the chief operating officer of NJCDC, says in a statement.