School Guard Filmed Hitting Student, Dumping Him From Wheelchair
[There was a video here]
Marchell Mitchell, an Oakland High School security guard, is facing felony charges for child abuse after reportedly attacking a student in a wheelchair who refused to move quickly when urged to class for running late.
School officials said the student, Francisco Martinez, who has cerebral palsy, refused to comply with the guard when ordered to hurry to class. It was then that Mitchell took control of Martinez's wheelchair and forcibly ushered him down the hallway, which caused Martinez to slap the guard's hand and spit in his face. The incident then turned violent as Mitchell hit Martinez a number of times before dumping him onto the floor. Another security guard then jumped in to restrain Mitchell.
The student "either refused to comply or was slow to do so," Principal Matin Abdel-Qawi wrote in a letter to parents. Speaking of Mitchell, he continued: "I'm shocked and deeply hurt by this behavior and apologize on behalf of the staff at Oakland High. This incident is not reflective of the kind of culture we cherish at our school or how we treat one another."
Mitchell, who has since been fired, is free on $10,000 bail and will appear in court on June 16.
