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Police release details of 5-year-old’s assault on South Carolina teacher

Posted at 9:19 PM, Sep 15, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-15 21:19:48-04

GREENVILLE, Sc. — Greenville police are investigating after a five-year-old student reportedly attacked a 23-year-old teacher Wednesday.

A school district spokesperson said the teacher works at Augusta Circle Elementary School. The student, who is 5 years old, was suspended following the incident, officials tell WHNS.

Greenville Police said they responded to the reports of a teacher being assaulted and injured by a 5-year-old male student.

According to the police report, the assault happened around 12:40 p.m.

The 5-year-old boy was continuously taking toys and play-doh from other children when he started stomping the play-doh under his feet and the teacher instructed the boy to pick up the dough.

Instead of complying, police reports state the boy lunged at the teacher, punched her in the jaw and left arm multiple times, and stomped on her foot. The child then picked up scissors, pencils, and other items that he reportedly threw at other students.

Police said the teacher was bleeding and had visible marks on parts of her body when they arrived.

The teacher said the child had previously punched her in the stomach and thrown blocks at her during the current school year.

Police said detectives specializing in juvenile cases were assigned to investigate the case.

Beth Brotherton, a spokesperson for Greenville County Schools, released this update Thursday morning:

“The principal made a call to parents this morning to keep them informed.  The teacher is under the care of a doctor, but chose to come to work today to reassure her students that she is okay.

The district office is providing additional counselors to help the other children in the classroom who witnessed the incident.”