Two Oklahoma teachers who work at the same elementary school are accused of striking a 10-year-old and carrying another 5-year-old student in a chokehold within months of each other.
Elizabeth Kay Sutton and Ottoria McClung have both been charged with assault and battery upon a student following the respective allegations in the Comanche County District Court in Elgin, about an hour outside of Oklahoma City, The Lawton Constitution reported.
Authorities responded to Elgin Elementary School on Jan. 8 after Principal Gabe Winn reported that Sutton, 38, allegedly grabbed a 10-year-old boy and forced him back into his seat before she struck him in the face.
Security camera footage allegedly captured the moment Sutton moved her arm toward the boy’s face, causing him to turn his head away from the teacher’s aide.
The footage then showed Sutton swing toward the youngster’s face, causing his head to snap back on impact.
Back in class, the boy’s teacher spotted a red mark on his face after he returned from lunch.
Sutton defended her actions to police, saying the boy “had been difficult since returning to school after the break,” the outlet reported.
She claimed to have used a hold she was taught as a paraprofessional and never meant to hurt the boy.
Sutton, who had only been a teacher’s aide for just five months, was then arrested and pleaded not guilty to assaulting the child.
She was also fired from the job, Superintendent Nate Meraz told the outlet.
Months after Sutton was arrested, McClung, a personal care assistant at Elgin Elementary School, was allegedly observed carrying a five-year-old student in a chokehold down a hallway.
A witness told police that the boy’s face was red and that he was crying and hitting McClung’s arm while she allegedly said, “I can’t deal with this,” on March 13, according to the outlet.
McClung, 37, was arrested and fired following the allegations.
Following both disturbing incidents, Meraz said in a statement that “all of the appropriate authorities were notified immediately,” and assured parents that “all employees must pass a background check and professional references are called prior to employment.”
“Both of these instances were reported to administration by fellow employees which reflects the culture of accountability here,” Meraz said.
“My philosophy on personnel is this: If we have reasonable hesitation in the interview process, we will not employ you. Once employed, if you harm a student, you will be terminated. We are here to educate kids in a safe environment. Elgin Public Schools’ highest priority is the safety and well-being of its students.”
Both Sutton and McClung are due to appear in court on May 20.
