Teaching assistant charged with simple assault on 12-year-old student
A Tabor City Elementary School teaching assistant was charged Wednesday with a count of simple assault after police say she left bruises on a 12-year-old student.
Posted — UpdatedCapt. Russell Conway with the Tabor City Police Department said Friday that the girl had been talking during computer class and that Melissa Blackwell grabbed the student by the throat after telling the girl at least once before to be quiet.
That caused some minor bruising that lasted more than 12 hours later, Conway said.
Blackwell told police she was trying to be playful while also getting the girl to stop talking and that she didn't mean to hurt the child.
Columbus County Schools Superintendent Alan Faulk said Blackwell, who has worked for the school system for more than 23 years, has been suspended without pay.
"Columbus County Schools regrets the incident occurred and does not condone this type of employee behavior," he said in an email.
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