Police: 3 charged with felony injury to 7th grader who wanted to use the bathroom

Police: 3 charged with felony injury to 7th grader who wanted to use the bathroom

by Jeremy Desel / KHOU 11 News

khou.com

Posted on March 6, 2013 at 6:22 PM

HUMBLE, Texas -- Three staffers of a Humble-area charter school are facing felony injury to a child charges after allegedly over-disciplining a seventh grade girl.
"Her arm was bent behind her back in a way that her wrist was up by her shoulder blades pretty high on her back," said Humble Police Department Det. Jackie Blanchard, the lead investigator in the case.
The three staff members at Northwest Preparatory Charter School now facing Felony Injury to a Child charges are 25-year-old Laurence Grigsby, 32-year-old Marcus Mitchell and 36-year-old Aisha Mercer.
Police say it started in a classroom when the 13-year-old female victim asked to go to the restroom. She was told no.
“It was up to the teacher to set the restroom breaks and every time someone would talk in the class he would change the time as a form of punishment. So she was not allowed for a long period of time to go to the restroom. She just finally had to go," said Det. Blanchard.
It was in the hallway that the alleged assaults began; first, by a teacher trying to take the student to the office.
In their statements to police, two of the teachers describe the girl as being "out of control.”
In all, the girl says her arm was bent backwards three different times. She was treated at a local hospital for arm injuries and referred to an orthopedist for additional treatment.
Magdalena Gomez is a parent of three children who attend Northwest Preparatory. She said she is disappointed about the charges, but would still recommend the school.
"I’m really surprised because I came all the time here and we come in without an appointment you know," said Gomez.
One parent told KHOU 11 News that if it was their child, "I would be infuriated. I have a daughter that goes here. That would not be tolerated."
The report actually came to the Humble police from CPS because the agency enrolled the girl in this school. She is living in a group home after being removed from her parents’ care.
The girl is six feet tall and weighs 150 pounds, but police say that should have no impact on how she is to be treated.
Humble police have responded to the school 23 times this year.
The school’s receptionist referred us to a superintendant who did not return our calls.