A Tennessee teacher has been charged with assault after police allege she injured a 4-year-old boy by forcefully holding him by the neck and shoving a biscuit into his mouth at school last month.
Background
Debra Robertson worked as a teacher for the Hollow Rock-Bruceton Special School District in Carroll County, Tennessee. According to authorities, the incident occurred on August 28 around 8:30 a.m., when Robertson allegedly forced the young student to eat a biscuit against his will. The arrest warrant states that after the alleged assault, the child was visibly distraught and had sustained a busted lip.
The victim's mother, Anna Townsend, spoke with local ABC and CBS affiliate WBBJ about the impact of the incident on her family.
"Honestly, it's really difficult to navigate this situation," Townsend said. "I feel like it would be for any parent, but we're being strong for our son."
The Investigation
According to the arrest warrant obtained by Law&Crime, police investigated the allegations and presented their findings to a local judicial commissioner. The warrant states: "The defendant committed the offense of assault by forcefully holding a 4-year-old male juvenile by the neck/head area and shoving a biscuit in his mouth."
On Tuesday, the judicial commissioner found probable cause for the assault charge and issued an arrest warrant for Robertson. Following her arrest, she was booked on a $2,500 bond. A condition of her release is that she not be charged with any new offenses while the case is pending.
The Hollow Rock-Bruceton Special School District confirmed in a statement to WBBJ that Robertson was immediately placed on suspension on the day of the incident and remains suspended without pay pending the outcome of her criminal case.
Key Takeaways
- Debra Robertson, a teacher for the Hollow Rock-Bruceton Special School District, is charged with assault
- Police allege she forcefully held a 4-year-old boy by the neck/head area and shoved a biscuit in his mouth on August 28
- The child sustained a busted lip and was described as visibly distraught after the incident
- Robertson was booked on $2,500 bond with conditions prohibiting new offenses while case is pending
- She remains suspended without pay from her teaching position during the investigation
What's Next
Robertson faces an assault charge in Carroll County and will proceed through the criminal justice system. Her next court appearance has not yet been scheduled. The Hollow Rock-Bruceton Special School District stated it is cooperating with law enforcement as the investigation continues.