TORONTO -- A 34-year-old teacher and athletics coach was suspended from her duties at a Whitby elementary school after police alleged they busted her in a sex act with a 14-year-old student in a car.

Durham Regional Police Det-Const. Jenn Bickle-Hearn said officers were investigating an unrelated missing-vehicle call at 8:45 p.m. Friday in Clarington when they came across a parked car in a rural area.

Upon looking into the car, police allegedly saw the teacher and student engaged in a sex act.

The teacher has been charged with sexual assault and sexual interference.

She had been serving as the teen's athletics coach, Bickle-Hearn said, before adding that she couldn't say much else to protect the identity of the alleged victim.

The teacher's name wasn't released nor was the name of the school where she was teaching and coaching. Police indicated she lives in Bowmanville and that since her arrest she's been released on bail.

"There's a lot I can't say just to protect the victim," Bickle-Hearn said.

Lou Vavougios, superintendent of employee relations with the Durham District School Board, said the teacher has been removed from her duties.

"I can tell you that we want to reassure parents that this person has been suspended from her teaching duties while the investigation proceeds," Vavougios said.

BRETT.CLARKSON@SUNMEDIA.CA