JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Lake Shore Middle School employee accused of child abuse said she acted in self-defense after the student she allegedly hit was being “disruptive” and “violent,” and when she tried to remove him from class, he began pulling her hair.
RELATED: Duval County Public Schools could face $8M funding cut under proposed state law changes
Recommended Videos
The employee, identified as 43-year-old Tia Smith, bonded out of jail on Friday and spoke to News4JAX about the events leading up to her arrest.
Smith is a teacher’s aide who specializes in working with autistic students. According to an arrest report, on April 16, a substitute teacher saw Smith place her hands on a student, press him against a wall, and hit the student in the face two times with her fist.
Another witness told police he heard a radio call for help, and when he arrived on the scene, he saw Smith and the student physically engaged but did not see the two hitting each other.
Police described the student as a non-verbal special needs individual with no social skills and having an “animated demeanor.”
The arrest report also states that Smith told police the student was in a “heightened state” and had been trying to kiss her on the lips, which she tried to avoid.
Smith continued to state that the student was being so disruptive and violent in class that when she tried to remove him from the class, he began pulling her hair.
According to her, that was the point where she began defending herself.
Now, Smith is considering a civil lawsuit against the Duval County Public Schools district because she says she was in an “unsafe work environment.”
DCPS removed Smith from the school following the incident and informed her that she should not contact any students.