A former preschool teacher was captured on surveillance grabbing and dragging a 4-year-old autistic boy, per deputies.
On Tuesday, an Indian River County Sheriff’s Office (IRCSO) detective reported responding to a Vero Beach daycare on the 700 block of 20th Avenue regarding allegations of child abuse.
The detective said she met with the victim’s mother and father, who reported their four-year-old autistic son had been in a physical altercation with his teacher, 48-year-old AW, which resulted in her termination.
The victim’s behavioural technician told the victim’s mother that she had stepped out of the room to use the bathroom when the alleged assault occurred, and that surveillance footage captured the incident.
The technician told IRCSO that when she returned from the bathroom, the four-year-old boy was on the ground and visibly upset.
The detective reported reviewing the surveillance footage, which showed W grabbing the boy by both arms and snatching back his hands, and pushing them towards his body as he attempted to pull them away.
The video then showed W pulling the boy’s arms with enough force that his head snapped backwards, dragging him three feet, lowering him to the ground, and pushing the boy down on his head when he attempted to stand up. W then held the boy there until his behavioral technician reentered the room, according to the criminal probable cause affidavit.
The detective said she checked the four-year-old for injuries and found that he had a large, inflamed area on his right arm near his shoulder, which is consistent with the video of him being grabbed.
The victim’s behavioural technician told the detective that she had never witnessed the boy pose any danger, and that if he did, the proper restraint would be a ‘basket hold,’ which involves holding the boy’s arms across his chest for a momentary pause.
The detective later paid Wood a visit at her home, where she told a different story.
W told the detective that the four-year-old was hitting her, throwing crayons, and had punched her in the stomach.
She explained that she hadn’t dragged the boy, but that he had tripped as she moved, according to IRCSO.
After further interrogation from the detective, W admitted that the force was excessive and told the detective that she had been hit with “one too many crayons,” according to the affidavit.
The detective found probable cause to book W for a count of child abuse.
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Source: cbs12
