Kentucky teacher fired after dragging autistic child down hallway, charged with assault

Kentucky teacher is charged with assault after being caught on camera dragging a nine-year-old autistic boy down a hallway by his wrists

  • Trina Abrams was caught on surveillance dragging a nine-year-old autistic boy through the hallway by his wrists in October 
  • She has been fired from Wurtland Elementary school in Kentucky
  • Abrams was charged with misdemeanor assault 
  • The former teacher is expected to appear in court on Wednesday 
  • The boy’s mother accused Abrams of being so violent that she injured her son and destroyed his shoes 

Kentucky State Police say a teacher seen on video dragging an elementary student has been charged with misdemeanor assault.

Police Trooper David Boarman said that Greenup County teacher Trina Abrams was the one seen dragging the 9-year-old boy by his wrists in the October video. Abrams is set to appear in court Wednesday.

The school district announced her termination on Monday – a day after the boy’s mother, Angel Nelson, posted the footage on Facebook and called for Abrams to be held accountable. 

The resource teacher, identified as Trina Abrams, was was fired after she was caught on camera dragging the autistic boy at Wurtland Elementary school in Kentucky back in October. She has been charged with misdemeanor assault

Nelson said her son has limited speech and has been diagnosed with autism, PTSD, anxiety and depression. 

The stay-at-home mom accused Abrams of being so violent that she injured her son and destroyed his shoes.  

She said doctors confirmed the boy had been left with a sprained wrist, swelling and bruising after she took him to be treated on the day of the incident. 

‘Mrs Abrams forcefully grabbed my son by the wrist and bent it backward while he was experiencing a meltdown (which he sometimes experiences as part of his diagnoses),’ Nelson said. 

Nelson claims that shortly before the incident, her son had become frustrated by Abrams who had told him to keep working even though he wanted to take a break.

Angel Nelson (pictured with her son) was outraged after seeing the footage and posted it on Facebook calling for action

Nelson (pictured) said the ordeal had 'emotionally traumatized' her son

Angel Nelson (pictured with her son left and right) was outraged after seeing the footage and posted it on Facebook calling for action

The school district announced her termination on Monday - a day after the boy's mother posted the footage on Facebook and called for Abrams to be held accountable

The school district announced her termination on Monday – a day after the boy’s mother posted the footage on Facebook and called for Abrams to be held accountable

She claimed that her son was pushed back into his chair hard. 

Then she said Abrams started dragging him by the wrist from the classroom and down the hallway. 

‘You want to walk?’ the teacher could be heard asking in the clip.

‘No,’ the boy replied.

At one point, she paused dragging the student and ordered him to ‘Get up!’ She is seen trying to pull the boy to his feet. He instead, goes limp and refuses to stand so she continues to drag him. 

The video showed the boy being dragged past a group of students waiting outside a classroom.   

The boy was dragged through the hallway by his wrists as his classmates and other students watched on

The boy was dragged through the hallway by his wrists as his classmates and other students watched on

Nelson said the ordeal had ’emotionally traumatized’ her son and claims Abrams ‘considers herself to be completely innocent’.

‘She claimed she was preventing him from harming himself but it doesn’t line up with his actions from the video. My son deserves justice. I feel as though Mrs Abrams should be held accountable for her actions,’ Nelson said. 

The mother added that her son would have to undergo intense occupational therapy because he experienced a regression in fine motor skills – including writing, buttoning his pants and tying shoes – as a result of his injuries.  

In announcing Abrams’ termination on Monday, the Greenup County School District said in a statement that a formal investigation had been conducted. 

The incident was also reported to the Kentucky Education Standards Board as per protocol, according to the district.  

Abrams continued to drag the boy when he was on his knees. His mother said the ordeal destroyed his shoes and left him injured

Abrams continued to drag the boy when he was on his knees. His mother said the ordeal destroyed his shoes and left him injured

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk