Flagler County Sheriff officers placed a 17-year-old high school student in custody after he attacked a paraprofessional for confiscating his Nintendo Switch in class on Feb. 21.
The incident happened at Matanzas High School. Surveillance video captured the attack, showing the 6-foot-6-inch and 270-pound student approaching the employee quickly and pushing her to the ground. He then started stomping on her and repeatedly punching her in the back and head, rendering her unconscious.
A woman ran up to the aggravated student and tried to get him to stop but couldn’t. It took several people to pull the student off the employee. Some held the 17-year-old down while others tended to the unconscious woman.
According to a news release from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, police took the student into custody. At the same time, medics transported the employee to a local hospital to be treated for the injuries she sustained.
“The actions of this student are absolutely horrendous and completely uncalled for,” Sheriff Rick Staly said in a statement. “We hope the victim will be able to recover, both mentally and physically, from this incident. Thankfully, students and staff members came to the victim’s aid before the SRDs could arrive. Our schools should be a safe place – for both employees and students.”
Police bodycam footage showed police officers placing the unnamed student in handcuffs. The 17-year-old asked if he was going to jail, and when one of the officers confirmed he was, he asked how long.
One of the officers asked the student if he would behave, and the student responded, “F**k you, I don’t want to go to jail. I have more important places to go.”
Authorities charged the student with felony aggravated battery with bodily harm.
“Creating a safe learning and working environment on our campuses is critical,” Flagler Schools Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadt said. “Violence is never an appropriate reaction.”
According to USA Today, as the student was escorted out of the school, he passed by the medical personnel treating the victim and began spitting at the victim, yelling he would kill her.
The woman was released from the hospital on Tuesday and is recovering.
The teenager is held at the Flagler County Jail on a $1 million bail. It’s also reported that the student lived in a group home.
