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Venice Teacher's Aide Accused Of Attacking Autistic Student

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By TIFFANY LANKES

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Published: September 12, 2008

VENICE - Police arrested a Venice High School teacher's aide Thursday after another school employee reported he slammed a 17-year-old autistic student's head into the wall.

Richard Green, 59, was charged with aggravated child abuse.

The arrest came after a staff member at the school reported Monday that she saw Green strike the student, who Green has been assigned to assist for about a year. Severely disabled students often have personal aides to attend classes with them and help them.

On the day on the incident, the student was having problems in class and was sent to see the school's behavior specialist.

Green escorted the student to the office, but no one was there. So Green took the student to another vacant room.

That's when another school employee heard Green yelling at the student from about 50 feet away, according to a police report. The staff member walked toward the office and saw Green grab the student by the jaw and shove his head against the wall twice, causing a loud bang, the report says. The blow caused the student's mouth to bleed.

The witness ordered Green to stop and leave the room, the report says.

The student was able to recall the incident to investigators, but because of his disability he could not relay all of the details.

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