A 17-year-old Matanzas High School student was arrested on a charge of aggravated battery after allegedly violently assaulting a paraprofessional employee he accused of taking away a game he was playing. The employee was hospitalized.
The school district is generally barred by federal privacy rules from disclosing identifying information about the student’s status. But it is clear from the circumstances that the student is in ESE, or Exceptional Student Education.
“We do not have paraprofessionals assisting general education students,” a district spokesperson said. “They are assigned to our ESE students.” ESE, also referred to as special education, may include students who have profound emotional or behavioral difficulties, and for whom public schools often provides the most sustained and effective environment. It is inevitable that at times students will and do act out, and at times hurt the very people helping them.
Tuesday’s incident took place around 10 a.m. The student later explained that the staffer had taken his Nintendo game away, angering him.
Surveillance video of the incident, described in the student’s arrest report, shows the student running down a hallway after the paraprofessional (or teacher aide), and pushing her with such force that she was airborne for 6 to 7 feet before falling and seemingly losing consciousness. The student then kicked her, got on top of her and punched her in the body and in the back of her head “approximately 15 times.”
The student is reported to be 6’6” and 270 pounds. He was eventually restrained by a dean. While a sheriff’s deputy was typing a report, with the student in the room, the student asked when he could go back to his group home. When the deputy told him he did not know, the student kicked the deputy’s desk, causing the deputy’s computer monitor to fall. A struggle ensued, involving two deputies and an assistant principal, to control the student.
In body cam footage released by the sheriff’s office, the student, who is compliant in that sequence, is heard saying–matter of factly–: “I don’t want to go to jail. I have more important places to be.” As he was walking past paramedics who were tending to the paraprofessional, the student “started to spit towards” her and “made comments that when he comes back he is going to kill her.”
While violence against educators trended up since the pandemic, with violence from students against staff contributing to a drain from the profession, an American Psychological Association briefing found that “Over 40% of school administrators reported verbal or threatening violence from parents” in 2021.
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Broma says
Very sad. But violent students should not be in an education environment without extra supervision. In this case the student should be sent to a mental institution where his is confined. Plus he should be made to pay (via labor) for damages and costs associated with health care for the injured school worker.
Sue Urban says
You do know they closed these types of hospitals in the 1975 right? It is against the law to confine a person do to a mental illness. A mental issue is not different then a physical one.
Gilead says
Closing the hospitals was one of the biggest mistakes this nation made. We should be able to detain the mentally ill if they are dangerous. Why is the individual more important than the safety of the populace?
Reena says
I didn’t know they were closed. That’s really sad. And yes, we’ll said. Why is one individual more than the safety of many?
JC says
The state hospitals closed a long time ago and they were very sad places. This guy would’ve probably ended up in a padded cell for life in order to protect the other patients and staff.
They try to control all psychiatric problems with medications these days (we are further along than then) but they cannot predict when someone will break out of control and they cut back the psych beds too far.
Tressy says
Well now he’s going to be abused in prison. He definitely had no business being in public school. Sad situation for all involved….especially the injured instructor.
Kathy L. Kitrel says
State hospitals were closed but, part of the IEP process for each student (who has an Individualized Education Program) is to determine what setting is their Least Restrictive Environment. Obviously, this is not his least restrictive environment. Imagine if a 5-foot-tall, 90-pound 15-year-old freshman pissed him off about–anything. Those same blows would have killed them. My son is totally physically disabled and has a developmental disability too, he is not capable of defending himself in any way. I had to remove him from his self-contained middle school classroom because an aggressive kid was put in the classroom, thankfully he was a small kid with down syndrome, and not a behemoth, or my son might not still be alive. Teachers and students should not have to live in fear in schools.
Angel says
I don’t know where you get the idea that all mental facilities closed in 1975, but you are mistaken. I know a man in his 50’s who has been in Chattahoochee State Mental Hospital here in Florida since the age of 18. That’s 40 years. There will always be mental facilities to keep the mentally ill off the streets and from harming other people. I don’t know what planet you live on.
Joe D says
The GENERAL laws in MOST states limit non-voluntary commitment to an inpatient facility ONLY for 72 hours…then there is a Competency hearing where a determination is made whether the patient is a “Danger to themselves or others”. If the hearing officer decides the patient (after the 72 hour evaluation is complete) that the patient is no longer a current danger to others, they have to be released.
If however, the hearing officer decides the patient REMAINS a danger to themselves or others , they can be COMMITTED to the facility for up to 60 days, and there is another hearing. If the decision is that they are still a danger, the commitment has to be renewed EVERY 60 days…forever.
However, if the patient is committed by the COURT system the length of time for these review hearings varies
Each State has different time lines for these processes
In times gone by(1960’s and prior) it only took one physician’s ( even a general practitioner) signature to commit someone to a mental hospital without a review hearing. This lead to MULTIPLE false “imprisonment “ type commitments where a RICH husband ( or wife) could pay one MD to commit their spouse, to gain control of their finances, or to use as a reason to divorce them…REALLY that’s all it took for you to be hospitalized FOREVER!
I have no idea what the specific circumstances of the mental patient being retained for 40 years is, but I can assure you if there are not State mandated periodic Competency hearing being done, he is being held illegally
Gone are the days of “lock them up and throw away the keys”
I’m speaking as a former Nursing Division Chief at a Mid Atlantic Psychiatric Hospital, with a MSN Degree as a Clinical
Nurse Specialist and as a CHILD and FAMILY therapist…WHAT PLANET are YOU FROM!?!
Jane says
There are therapeutic schools for violent children.
Lorie says
I’m sorry. Why are we making a disturbed individual pay for damages?
Matt says
Because they are still responsible
Janet says
This person belongs in prison and can receive whatever help there may be for him there- meanwhile keeping the teacher(s) and society safe. No matter what the background this behavior is not acceptable and should not be free to injure others.
They should not even be allowed to have those games in school- they are there to learn. Where is the principle to enforce these things?
C. J. says
With reference to this comment and those following this one, we in the US have abandoned mental health care services and closed almost all mental hospitals throughout the US. I dare say that we have abandoned training psychiatrists in general, let alone specialists for children. Fifty years ago I was a rehab counselor in a state mental hospital wherein we had special unit with trained psychiatrists and psychologists working with troubled children of all ages. Families, let alone public schools, are unequipped to handle or understand the behavior of and the mental glitches of youth of all ages. Causes may be chemical, physical brain damage, some emotional and situational maladjustment to their environments, or all of the above. Today, the only “mental hospital” available to most people is Jail. And that has been a miserable failure. Until we as a society come to appreciate the need for mental health care and provide the full range of qualified care, we can continue to expect more issues to arise in our public schools and throughout society.
Faulting homes for “troubled” youth or the inability of parents to handle these “children” without proper diagnostic and appropriate follow up care (for parents who often suffer mental health issues as well) we will continue to see these issues multiply.
JOE D says
As a former Nurse therapist trained as a Child and Family therapist for 10 years, there was a major shift in the 1970’s Mental Health treatment ….from closing institutions and “treating in the community “….well, they saved money closing most of the chronic hospitals, but there was MINIMAL investment in Community Mental Heath Centers, Community Group Homes and Day Treatment facilities ( Hence the large number of current mentally I’ll and substance abusing homelessness populations communities are choosing to ignore. And all that treatment is EXPENSIVE and LONG TERM….
There are no “cute”
Donation ads like those for the incredible St Jude Children’s Hospital or the Shriners Hospitals for Children!
Currently there are laws saying that unless you are a danger to
yourself or others TODAY (not last week, not last night), you cannot be in a non-voluntary treatment center against your will.
Unfortunately, that means the emotionally and behaviorally disturbed students are required to be educated until they are at least 16 (or 21 if they choose to).
Since the highest level of treatment is a separate Day School or RESIDENTIAL treatment center, THAT level of treatment is EXPENSIVE (like $80k+/yr per resident expensive), school districts and unfortunately Insurance Companies don’t want to PAY.
This means your local school staff have to provide small 4-10 students usually with a teacher and 1-2 (maybe) teaching paraprofessionals in that class.
Clearly this student has significant mental health and behavioral issues, and should be held accountable (at a level appropriate for his disability)
But our local school staff need to have the support needed to keep themselves, and other students safe. The staff person was COMPLETELY justified in taking the game away from the student who should have been paying attention to the CLASS
Some comments prior, related to the parents taking responsibility for this man-child. I can tell you, if the student is living in a community group home, and being educated in a self contained classroom, there is unlikely to be a responsible parent available ( but not always).
Funding for Mental Health Services in the US is ABYSMAL!
We are failing our citizens (and especially our CHILDREN) who are under unimaginable stress, most recently due to an isolating PANDEMIC
Ignoring the problem will only increase disastrous incidents as described here!
Susan says
The fact that you assume this student doesn’t have a responsible parent because he’s in self contained is ridiculous.
First issue is thst the game should not have been at school. Second she was a paraprofessional who should not have asked him fir the game since she probably is not trained to handle these situations. Unfortunately the paras are mainly a babysitter and receive no training. If this student is EBD, what were the protocols put in place especially since he is a larger individual than most adults?
Yes there should be a consequence but not putting him in a regular jail due ro his disability.
Caroline Ormsbee says
Im not sure about training in the area this occurred in, but as a former paraprofessional in Washington state, I can assure you that training is extensive. We are graded on 14 core competencies, in some hires a 2 year degree is required and can be waived if the paraprofessional has years of previous experience, and regular training at local colleges, and weekend seminars are required. Maybe Florida doesn’t put high value on their paraprofessionals, but Washington state sure does.
Andrew W Sprague says
Says it right there in the Article he lives in a Group Home.
LindsB says
This is spot on. I am a former Sp. Ed. teacher and there is nowhere for these children to receive proper treatment, thus, the school system must suffice. And in Sp. Ed. laws, up until the age of 21, you can bet there are many men-children, attending high school until that age, prolonging the inevitable entrance into adult society. Often, these self-contained rooms are holding cells. Teachers and paras are trained on verbal de-escalation and physical restraint (and to implement only under specific and potential self-harm or harm-to-others situations) but you can’t train and prepare for every situation. It appears this student ran into a hallway (likely before an adult could stop him, and also, imagine if an adult tried to physically stop him, they’d lose their job. It happened in my county this past fall….that’s a different topic for a different day, but very disturbing, as my county school system threw the teacher under the bus, even though he likely saved another teacher’s life.) Just like a student bringing a weapon and opening fire, you can’t always prepare for the worst situations. And so, you respond to them. And that is what our country’s teachers and staff members do on the regular. I am sad, but also glad, to see teachers leaving the profession for their personal safety. Our country needs to take a few steps back in the direction of student discipline and repeat juvenile offense consequences. Honestly, just enforcement of laws already in place. And yes, we need a different approach to mental health in minors. School systems are not mental hospitals or therapeutic settings. We can offer these things in small doses, through IEPs and wrap-around services, but the majority of their school day is spent in a room with other students who behave similarly, and content mastery and/or life skills end up on the back burner. Behaviors, moods, reacting to situations, keeping hot students from escalating to verbal or violent attacks….take the front seat. Too much is expected of school systems and too much is expected of the amazing, boots-on-the-ground teachers of all students, those with IEPs, and those without. It sure doesn’t help that our government shut everything down and expected children and educators to just pick up the pieces and carry on. What a sad time in history we are living through. Happy to be homeschooling my own children. We will never set foot back in a public school.
JC says
The mental health system deficient (as well as parenting in many childrens’ lives) in this county and we have been rewarding bad behavior with Christian principles of mercy (rather than evolutionary Darwinian theory of “you made a dumb decision to get pregnant early in life with a man who is not committed to you or the child so you and your baby will not survive”. The problem with this is that no change in behavior and lifestyle choices is required to receive public aid and the problems tend to promulgate themselves. While we like to have Christian principles of mercy and love, it’s also fair to require responsibility for behavior and someone’s best efforts. Parent’s expect the teachers to teach values (or video games or TV which is basically morally bankrupt) and this extends beyond the lengthy curriculum American children get but manage to finish 13 years of school with no marketable skills.
I hope the best for this teachers aide that she can recover fully even though the odds are unlikely she won’t be scarred for life in more ways than one.
ASF says
Thank you, Joe D.! You are right on target with your comments!
wile coyote says
should *pay* by being locked up 24/7!
Ann W. says
How do you “make” a teenager like this work to pay damages?
He likely can’t do much work, or at least not work of any monetary value — and even if he was told to dig a ditch, he will likely just be violent there too.
Pointer Finger says
Such short memories and selective justice.
https://flaglerlive.com/27520/matanzas-head-butt/
Jane says
This is not the least restrictive environment for this student. He needs two (2) 1 on 1’s aids because of his size and violent acts.
GOLDMANN says
Yes 👍 exactly correct 💯.
Resident says
Parents need to be involved in their children – or whoever is supervising them. School is for learning, not teaching a child how to behave. The bad behavior affects the entire class body and is not conducive to the reason they are there. Why is this a continual problem. If a child cannot behave properly, send them home and let the parents/guardian decide how to handle – NOT THE SCHOOLS, TEACHERS OR SCHOOL PERSONNEL! Enough is enough.
Sue Urban says
This child live I’m a group home. There is no Parent. Know the facts but passing judgment please.
ASF says
Children living in group homes need guidance, rule setting and intensive counseling–not excuse-making when they mess up and hurt other people.
Retired Therapist says
As a retired therapist and disability advocate; this young man needs to be kept away from the general public or he will kill someone. Mark my word-he will kill.
Either his parents are unable to handle him, disabled themselves or in jail. I hope his group home is staffed 3:1 or even 4:1.
Even after injuring her; he tries to spit on her. This is a an animal in a human body. My naive self would have believed he could be helped; the only help will be behind bars or so chemically -restrained he becomes 600 lbs unable to move fast from the psychotropics.
Deborah Hoyt says
Even when people are in group homes doesn’t mean a parent is not involved. It could be either the child was in the system or the parents them selves could not handle them. Also many parents know that they can not live forever and group homes teach individuals how to take responsibility such as keep rooms clean, having chores, and even possibly working or going to a day program. When I worked in a group home I had a client attack me and the police were called. Even with mental health disabilities people need to be held accountable. In my case it wasn’t really serious but some individuals are not “dumb” but cunning and manipulative. If you give them a pass because they have a disability they run with it. Everyone regardless needs to be taught consequence and accountability
Mary says
The teacher could have been killed . He told the officers he would kill her thr next time . He knows right from wrong if he knows the word kill . If he assaults anyone it’s a crime . I am a nurse , and I can press assault charges if I am harmed at work , regardless of mental status of the perpetrator. No excuse for assault of anyone .
Ann W. says
I think you are more interested in “punishing the parents” than in solving the problem.
The problems with this mentally ill minor can be addressed more appropriately in a restricted setting like a group home and special ed school than “at home with his mother” all day.
Sending him home is not feasible, even if he had a home; and his mother is not an adequate caregiver.
His vector was from”home” –> to group home and Special School.
It doesn’t make sense to reverse that direction and send him from a “group home and special school” –> back to his mother.
David Schaefer says
ESE student or not he needs to be arrested and charged. This is totally inexcusable , I hope that the teacher will be ok.
ASF says
For sure, he should not be allowed to return to that same High School. That teacher should not have to live in fear.
Support our Teachers says
Teachers, aides, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, etc. are often threatened with physical violence, verbal abuse and yes, in a rising trend, they become victims of battery at the hands of STUDENTS! This is unacceptable and shameful that this behavior is tolerated by many administrations. Teachers are even told they can’t press charges and many times their abuser is returned to school within a couple days. I’m not saying this is how Flagler does it, although I have my suspicions. I just KNOW many other districts operate in this manner. When are the communities these teachers serve going to stand up for them? Get involved! Go to school board meetings! Demand answers!
Atwp says
If the Aide had a weapon would this have happened?
Whathehck? says
Yes it would have happened since she was attacked from behind and lost consciousness. The violent student would have had access to a weapon making a really bad situation worst. My best wishes to the educator.
The dude says
Considering she was blindsided from behind by a man-child several inches taller then her, and significantly outweighing her… and instantly knocked unconscious… she’d probably be dead by her own weapon.
You ammosexuals don’t really think ahead much do you?
Joe D says
My ex wife was a Special education teacher for a major east coast Metropolitan school district for 20 years
She was assaulted by students at least 4 times. There are additional paraprofessionals in the classrooms, but not routinely someone who can physically manage a 6’6” 200 + lb out of control student. She ALWAYS pressed charges, but then used the leverage of dropping the charges if the student got additional needed services, which sometimes meant a more restrictive (READ : MORE EXPENSIVE) school environment
She even had School
Principals try to intimidate her into dropping charges after she went to the police department herself , when school police refused (at the direction of the Principal) to call the local Police. The Principal was more worried about their “violent incident” report looking bad, than the safety of their teaching staff. And YES, she has had MULTIPLE threats from parents too, so we should not be surprised the STUDENTS feel they are running the school
There is no surprise, that competent , dedicated teachers are leaving the profession (everywhere, not just in Florida). I for one am glad she finally retired, in one piece!
L.B. says
Kudos to your wife for taking care of business. I have driven a public school bus for 22 years. I’ve had rocks thrown at me by a student while driving the bus, been spit at, cursed at, screamed at by parents who were in my face. The list could go on. And we drivers are restricted more and more as to how we can respond. I’m sorry but if a student gets physical with me then all bets are off.
Joe D says
The school boards are too busy with reading challenges and Book banning from a small (VERY VOCAL) groups in the Community!
Wow says
A public school setting is not an appropriate placement for a person like this.
Caroline Ormsbee says
That is the best comment I’ve read so far. You are absolutely correct in saying that public school is not appropriate for this student. Most IEP’s and laws state the student must be placed in the least restrictive environment, and earn, through negative behaviors, their way to more restrictive environments. It’s a double edged sword as there are many non violent students who should not be in restrictive environments earning their way to less restrictive environments through good behavior, as it places the nonviolent students at huge risk in the restrictive environment with the violent students. At any rate…it appears this student has earned himself a more restrictive environment.
Allen says
Sending prayers for the teacher to get well soon. As far as the juvenile who raises this kind of kid.
Jimbo99 says
Really, 6’6″ 270 lbs ? From the still, the FCSO arresting officer must be 350-400 lbs, the officer eclipses the handcuffed student.
At any rate, all of this escalating into a hospitalization over a stupid game.
The dude says
President Biden’s fault?
Caroline says
In what way would this be Biden’s fault? These issues have been occurring for years…red states, blue states, republicans, democrats…no…I don’t think so. Each state is allowed to run their schools as they see fit. In some states, special Ed students are mainstreamed. In others they are not. Maybe look to the governors if you’re looking for political blame
Land of no turn signals says says
Totally unacceptable 17 or not should be charged with attempted murder.Punched and kicked while unconscious disgusting.No remorse spit at her lock him up.Teacher shortage wonder why.
Retired Educator says
Special Ed or not, he should be charged with attempted murder! This is senseless violence against educators and teacher aides for simply doing their jobs! More facts will emerge very soon that will show the grave damage this 270 lb “boy” did to this person… and he should be left in jail …not bailed out! He will learn his lesson there very soon. Doubtful that the foster parents at the group home will have the means to bail him out anyway. He deserves a VERY SEVERE sentence!!!!
Whathehck? says
It is obvious he doesn’t know he did wrong. He needs mental health not prison. He doesn’t belong in school.
Retired Therapist says
He knows he did wrong and doesn’t care. Yes; he will be diagnosed as anti-social personality disordered when he is 18. There is no therapy for this condition. I worked for 25 years in DJJ, local and with Federal offenders and severely mentally ill—this guy is the exception to the majority. Would you host him in your home as a foster parent?
Veteran teacher says
As a child of a violent mentally ill mother, thank you , retired therapist, for telling it like it is. This boy, like my mother, will never cease being violent and knows full well what he’s done. Too many innocents have been killed or damaged by people who must be kept away from the general populace. They ARE a threat and the bigger problem is those who constantly defend them and claim they are harmless.
Mary says
Amen to that common sense . He is huge and can’t control emotions . Don’t blame an ED tech weighing 130 pounds , age 57 female nearly beaten to death for taking away his coping video game . He needs tranquilizers .
Ann W. says
If he “needs mental health (treatment),” then he needs something he cannot get.
Can you name a single person EVER who was cured by “mental health treatments” who would not have improved anyway?
“Mental health treatment” is a scam
Joe D says
I personally can count HUNDREDS of people who were able ( with sometimes years of counseling) to deal with early life loss, abuse and neglect
I’m sorry if YOUR personal experience was not positive
As a Masters Prepared Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist and Child and Family therapist….you would not believe what early and competent Counseling has done for people who have sought out help dealing with their personal life emotional pain!
Pogo says
@FlaglerLive
It is fortunate that spectators are, mostly, limited to spectating. Not that anyone commenting here would care, but here is just one of the important issues that will arise in this matter:
Competency to Stand Trial
https://www.google.com/search?q=Competency+to+Stand+Trial
Support Our Teachers says
I’ve considered that topic, and I’m sure that will be raised as a defense. However, my comments were more towards the lack of ACCOUNTABILITY and the fear staff live in these days to work in schools. School employees need community support. These stories have become much too common in recent years.
ASF says
The student says he has “more important places to be”? I wonder what he was referring to when he said THAT? His “Group Home” should be keeping a closer eye on him and what he is doing, where he is hanging out and who is hanging out with in his “free time.”
This kid is begging for an ankle monitoring device.
Leila says
This kid is going to kill somebody and would have, had not others intervened to stop him. He has no business being returned to ANY SCHOOL. Violent offenders need to be permanently removed from school. And the same with those making threats.
Our children have the right to feel safe in our schools. He needs to be tried as an adult. He made it perfectly clear what he intended to do when he returns.
Who in their right mind would subject a child to this in the public schools?
Sad Day in Flagler says
You are dead on correct. 25 years in the field of behavioral forensics and this is not going to end well. I would not allow my child back in that school if he set foot ever again and should be on monitoring forever. I pray some parents take this to the Supreme Court of FL —if he is allowed to return—this will not end well. I worked in prisons and with offenders for decades and believe it or not; it is the rare offender who is this much of an animalistic killer. Guys will jump rival gangs but usually teachers are off -limits to harming teachers. Even criminals find these guys the worst of the worst. I bet the State will work with him for ten years to try to get him competent for trial and how many will be hurt in his path?
Ed says
To all previous comments, you are all correct but I’m thinking none of you has a special needs child in your life.
The key word is special needs. They don’t process things the same as most people. They have a deficiency or inability to function normally.
With that said, jail won’t solve the problem. The “perp” might be incapable of controlling his anger properly and the “system” (ie school) probably had some prior knowledge of the potential problem.
Public schools are ill equipped to mainstream every special needs child by law. Not an easy task.
I’m not a bleeding heart liberal and don’t have all the facts, just 22 years of loving my special needs grandson and being around the special needs community. I cry watching the special Olympics or their “party mixers”.
This might be a failure to provide the proper supervised environment, or training or a 100 other things, but I know in my heart that special needs children require specialized care and understanding.
Deborah Hoyt says
You are right but when it gets to the point of almost killing someone they need to also be punished. I don’t think jail would be appropriate but thanks to closing down all the mental health facilities its where they all go. I worked with special needs kids and adults for a very long time and in group homes and this is a horrible situation but needs to be corrected. But again people don’t think mental health is important and more services are being cut
Retired Therapist says
I managed a group group for six developmentaly disabled adult men. It was the most joyous time in my life. I dealt with challenging behaviors. One man would knock on my door all night long bc he wanted to make sure I had not left the house. I seriously doubt this student can be compared to people with dev. disabilities. I suspect this student is classified as emotionally and behaviorally disturbed. Big difference. Not all emotionally disturbed kids have organic intellectual disabilities. The tragedy is often kids with DD are victimized by kids with Emotional or Behavioral disturbances. Attacks by dev. delayed is more primal or often due to inability to communicate. Most DD kids do not have to be drugged to control their violent outbursts. Many take meds related to seizures or other self-regulation issues. This student needs trained people who know how to work with violent behaviors. It’s a challenge in psych hospitals and challenge in jails. I suspect his next offense will be car jacking or similar violation of the rights of others due to lack of empathy. Most people with DD have an abundance of empathy and sometimes that empathy is their most profound emotion. Parents of DD children in this school and parents of mainstreamed kids need to demand this child is not ever to enter the school again or there is blood on the school board hands. This kid will rape, kill and violate the rights of others until he is controlled . Imagine if somebody rebuffed his romantic desires? I project his will rape that person in the school bathroom which is often a common assault.
Kathy L. Kitrel says
You hit the nail on the head. My husband and I both worked with adult men who had developmental disabilities/mental illness many had behavior mod plans due to aggression, but nothing like this. I am 4′ 11″ and at the time weighed 120 pounds. I was never injured by one of my men. Fast forward and our youngest son is mentally and physically disabled and in middle school, a child who was physically able-bodied and aggressive was put in his class. The staff was not allowed to inform parents of the threat to our kids, I was only notified because one of my son’s classmates had a full-time RN that went to school with him and witnessed my son get hit in the back of the head with a thrown shoe. I pulled my son out when the school refused to remove the aggressive kid from a classroom of all physically disabled children.
Pat Stote says
I don’t think a weapon is the answer.
He’s a very strong enormous kid and he could have easily gotten the gun from her.
I hope the teacher recovers.
I sure don’t know what the answer is but God Bless all teachers aids? my niece being of them. They work very hard with these kids.
Susan Maher says
I am a retired teacher of ESE students in Florida. I have seen many changes through my 25 years of service. Changes need to be made in this ESE environment to protect the teachers and paras at all times. We know that simple changes to routine can trigger these types of responses from ESE students. Why are we not protecting our invaluable paras and teachers from this type of brutality? Parents don’t want these students at home so they, in effect, force the schools to take them in and in many cases that are this severe, professional baby sitting is the norm. Yesterday, in many cases, schools are so short staffed for ESE paras and teachers that only one para is in the room and several times, that para and/or teacher is ALONE handling the room. NO. Schools should place these students who exhibit violent, unstable tendencies, in other venues and NOT in the classrooms or on school campuses. Follow the money and you will understand why the school system accepts or is forced to accept these students. This is a tragedy. My heart goes out to the para…
Jane says
Let’s stop with the excuses and accept responsibility.
Jim99 says
Was that a dressed Marine walking leisurely down the hall watching this Para get beaten? A little hustle maybe????
Local says
There were several people in the video that did absolutely nothing while that woman was being beaten….sorry ass people!
susan says
Agree so many staff members either didn’t try to help like the women in the red shirt or the Marine guy strolling as the poor teacher was being booted. That red head was a student that ran to help save that teacher’s aide. She acted how I would of expected staff and my fellow coworkers to act immediately with urgency. And why do we have a deputy standing there when he arrived doing nothing why didn’t he secure the student in cuffs not wait for back up like a pussy. Disgraceful.
Cgw84 says
I was shocked to see that as well! Very disturbing. He literally walked up to the scene… meanwhile the woman with the red hair covered about 5 feet for every step he took. Hope he’s embarrassed that all of his acquaintances can see this video.
Mary says
Exactly ! He was walking casually , not like the women rushing to her aid . Pathetic response by the short haired man . Afraid to get hurt . Surely she has head , shoulder and rib injuries, PTSD and more . I hope she sues the school for lack of support and surveillance . Don’t defend violent children, especially 17 year olds that can kill with their outbursts . Don’t blame the teacher for taking his toy . He can go to a locked forensic unit somewhere for therapy .
No mercy now says
Sooner or later he will kill. Either lobotomize him and hive him.a menial job, or put his expendable butt in a “special” military unit.
Pogo says
@FlaglerLive
Look at this! Your site is so good, a Wagner Group commander took time from feeding Putin’s meat grinder to care about us.
Pointer Finger says
Your late, don’t forget this one too!
https://flaglerlive.com/27520/matanzas-head-butt/
Vincent says
Psychiatry cannot replace Faith, Hope, and Charity. Every state needs an Iowa law like the one recently passed where money follows the child, even to home school.
It is disgusting to read all the comments sympathizing with the perpetrator. You think other people, and their children, in the end, are just pawns and lab rats for the public school social experiment
Pogo says
@Vincent
I’m not disgusted by the anger of people who identify with, and/or have sympathy, for the victim. I’m one too.
But likewise, I’m appalled by what accompanies “police beat” reporting (not the reporting — the reactions), which is the crowd with baseball bats and torches demanding that “we” discard what was bequeathed by millennia of human striving, ergo, the rule of law, not of any one man. It is the difference between unending feuding and justice with finality.
For the same reasons, I’m particularly opposed to one man’s religion, and its school, being subsidized by everyone’s taxes. Your styling of public school, “…the public school social experiment” (sic) is among the most pernicious of the big lies of right wing culture warriors like desantis, et al., and you, who literally turn history on its head:
https://www.google.com/search?q=history+of+compulsory+education
Thinking of this teacher and praying for her recovery. says
Is there a legit go fund me for the teacher? She will need years of therapy to recover from this trauma. You have no idea how long this trauma will sit with a person. I pray she has no brain trauma. Hopefully someone will hold a fundraiser but honestly I would not want the perp to know my name.
Toto says
There is a go fund me for her, organized by some students. It’s under the go fund me name “Support & Encouragement for Joan” organized by Jessica White Leon
Joan (the victim) has a long road ahead of her, physically and mentally. You’ll not meet a nicer person, so hard working.
Thank you for asking. I hope this gets out there!
Hope says
I feel so sorry for that poor woman. I hope she’s doing ok. I’m sure this isn’t the first violent incident this student has had, even if not to this degree. He should have never been in attendance at a regular school. I don’t know if he’ll end up in adult jail, juvenile center, or mental facility, but it’s clear he doesn’t need to be released into the regular public without intense treatment, medication, and supervision.
Special Needs Parent says
Having individuals not properly trained to assist kids with behavior issues in the school system, coupled with a child not receiving the correct interventions is a recipe for disaster. There’s more going on here.
Ann W. says
Yes, that’s correct.
The para should have been trained to sit side-by-side with this person, facing in the same direction and mirroring his body language.
She should have been trained to then whisper, “Hey, buddy. Hide up your Nintendo, man — before the security guard sees it.”
And when he does that, she should have been trained to slide him a couple of wrapped caramel candies and left his presence quietly.
Retired Therapist says
Great article: Now is the time for parents to call Tallahassee and get help! How many more victims have to suffer?
https://projects.sun-sentinel.com/teenage-time-bombs/how-schools-manage-violent-kids/
Joe D says
The “worry “ that this violent 17 yr old will be abused in prison isn’t a concern at the moment. Flagler Co has already remanded this Man-Child to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice on charges of Felony Assault. Now the juvenile courts must evaluate this 250
Lb 6’6” “child” and determine whether he is best served in the Juvenile Justice system, or are the charges and circumstances serious enough to “waiver “ this individual to ADULT court jurisdiction which would try him as an ADULT. His case will be a bit clearer, because all the assault ( and it is FRIGHTENING) was caught on school surveillance camera (see CNN and other news releases of the video) released by the Flagler County Sheriff’s office ( the student assailant’s face is purposely blurred to protect his identity, because he is under age 18)
The actual video is much worse than all the verbal accounts described earlier this week… my heart breaks for the poor injured and helpless Para Professional Teaching assistant lying on the floor, motionless while she was kicked, punched and staff had to pull the assaulting student away from her 3 times, because he went back after her each time the school intervening staff lost their grip on him, while trying to restrain him….UNBELIEVABLE!!!
Misty says
He was a behavior student which essentially means he lacks self discipline the same way many of our criminals do. Sorry, but sometimes the truth hurts. We are raising our kids to believe they have no consequences for their actions, that they can do no wrong. We are raising an entire generation of these sociopaths who are violent self-entitled people. Sorry but he does not belong in school. He literally told another student he was going to kill her before he got up to do just that. He is a violent threat to society. He is 17 nearly 18. He is an adult. The buck stops here. He needs to pay for his crimes.