CRIME
North Carolina Student Charged For Slapping Teacher In Viral Video
WXLV
A North Carolina high school student is facing criminal charges after he was filmed slapping a teacher in the face multiple times during class on Monday, authorities said.
A video posted online showed the unnamed teenager standing over the seated teacher inside a classroom at Parkland High School in Winston-Salem on Monday. The student slaps the teacher in the face, though the teacher appears unfazed.
Do you think that affected me in any way, the teacher can be heard saying.
“Want me to hit you again,” the student asks.
I don’t want it, the teacher says.
The student then slaps the unidentified teacher again, knocking off their glasses, and continues on their profanity-filled rant.
Nobody even coming. You got slapped, the student said.
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office began investigating soon after the video appeared online. In a message to parents on Monday, Parkland High School Principal Noel Keener said the student would face disciplinary action at school in addition to criminal charges for the inappropriate and unsettling behavior.
Our administration has started an investigation immediately in conjunction with our law enforcement partners at the Forsyth County Sheriffs Office. The student involved in the video will face disciplinary action in accordance with district policies and procedures. The student may also face criminal charges, Keener wrote.
Please know this video is not reflective of our expectations of students at Parkland High School. We are working with district staff to address this immediately and ensure behavior like this is not tolerated in our school and district, Keener wrote.
On Tuesday, the sheriff’s office said a secure custody order was issued for the student on one count of communicating threats and two counts of assault on a government official.
All of us should be outraged when those who educate us can be assaulted. We should hold those who teach and educate our children to the highest regard. Our hope and our prayer at the FCSO, is that we recognize, that we as a community, must bring order not only to our community but our children, Sheriff Bobby F. Kimbrough Jr. said in a statement.
We are praying for wholeness for those students who witnessed this and the educator involved. Thank you to all who have given their support, and a special thanks Mr. Jim [O’Neill] of the District Attorneys office. The office of the people, is committed to the safety of our teachers, this community, and all that dwell and work in Forsyth County, Kimbrough said.
TMX contributed to this article.
