In a troubling incident out of Eastpointe, Michigan, a paraprofessional at Forest Park Elementary is facing charges for allegedly striking a first-grade student, who has autism, with a shoe. Kimberley Horen, 53, has been charged with assault and battery, a misdemeanor that could land her nearly three months behind bars, according to information from Fox 2 Detroit. The accusations detail that Horen took the shoe off the 6-year-old child and proceeded to hit them on the head.
Reports emerged that the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office allowed Horen to resign instead of being fired after the initial investigation. This aspect of the case has raised questions, with some wondering whether allowing her to quietly leave was appropriate. Meanwhile, the child's parent was the one who reported the alleged assault to the school, which Fox 2 Detroit notes led to an internal investigation.
The case has drawn attention to the responsibilities of educational staff towards their students, particularly those with special needs. "As a trusted educator, the defendant had a responsibility to provide a safe and focused learning environment for students. Instead, she violated that trust. This behavior is unacceptable, and we are committed to pursuing justice to ensure that such misconduct has no place in our schools," Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido stated, as reported by MLive.
The incident allegedly took place in October last year, but Horen was only officially charged this week. The response from authorities has gathered public interest, as the community begins to question the measures taken by the school and law enforcement to protect vulnerable students. The investigation by the school was reportedly followed by an investigation from the Eastpointe Police Department, which factor in to ultimately led to the misdemeanor charge against Horen, as noted by Click On Detroit.
