A Chicago Public Schools employee is facing a felony charge after court records allege she put an 8-year-old student in a chokehold and threw him to the ground at a South Side elementary school, leaving the child seriously injured and triggering a criminal investigation. Court filings identify the employee as Tamika Odeh, who is now charged with aggravated battery tied to the November incident.
According to ABC7 Chicago, the alleged attack happened on Nov. 13 at Parker Elementary in Englewood and left the student with serious injuries. ABC7 reports that Odeh appeared in court this week, where a judge denied the state’s request to detain her but ordered that she have no contact with any children under 10. She is scheduled to return to court on Tuesday.
State Rules Limit Use of Restraint
Illinois tightened its rules on seclusion and physical restraint after investigations uncovered widespread misuse, banning locked seclusion and restricting holds that could impair breathing. The updated policies emphasize that physical restraints are supposed to be used only in emergencies to prevent imminent harm and require schools to report such incidents to the state, a shift detailed by ProPublica.
Where This Happened
Parker Elementary Community Academy serves pre-K through eighth grade and lists its address as 6800 S. Stewart Ave, according to Teach Chicago. The school is part of Chicago Public Schools’ Network 11 and serves a student body with a high rate of free and reduced-price lunch, a backdrop that has drawn attention to safety and discipline practices in neighborhood schools.
Legal Implications
Odeh is charged with aggravated battery to a child, an offense that applies to adults who intentionally or knowingly cause great bodily harm to children under 13. Under Illinois law that offense can be charged as a Class X felony with severe prison penalties, according to the state criminal code on Justia.
What’s Next
Odeh is expected back in court on Tuesday as prosecutors weigh whether to seek pretrial detention or add charges. This story will be updated as new court records and official statements from Chicago Public Schools or prosecutors become available.
