A teacher at a Florida elementary school was arrested after he was accused of physically abusing a 6-year-old student with special needs.
Kevin Adkisson, a teacher at Wadsworth Elementary in Palm Coast, was arrested on Friday, October 23, in connection to an alleged assault that took place on October 16, according to WFLA.
After someone reported that they saw Adkisson, 52, physically abusing the child, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office’s Major Case Unit launched an investigation into the incident.
Detectives eventually determined that the incident began when the victim and another student were arguing over a toy during free time. Another staff member tried to intervene, and Adkisson later forcefully removed the toy from the students’ hands.
Witnesses claimed that Adkisson then pushed the student as he was trying to return to a table.
The witnesses added that Adkisson allegedly grabbed the student by the arm “in a rough, slinging motion.” The grasp was so strong that the student’s body was forcefully swung into the air.
Adkisson then yelled at the student and said he was “acting like a 2-year-old and needed to go to their designated area,” according to police.
Following the incident, the student crawled underneath a desk and started to yell and cry. Adkisson allegedly continued to escalate the situation when the student didn’t listen to his instructions, and he moved the desk and grabbed the student by the arm.
Police said that Adkisson then pressed the student against a wall, “restricting his ability to move.” Witnesses reported that they heard the student crying and telling the teacher that he couldn’t breathe and that he was in pain.
Adkisson eventually released the student, and he allegedly told the child that he was not hurt before he walked away.
After the incident was reported, detectives interviewed the student and he claimed it was not his first incident with Adkisson. The student alleged that Adkisson previously hit both sides of his stomach with closed hands, picked him up and placed him in the back of the line he skipped ahead of his classmates.
Following the investigation, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office arrested Adkisson. He has since been charged him with two counts of child abuse without great bodily harm.
It is not currently clear if Adkisson has entered a plea or retained legal counsel following his arrest. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Us’ request for comment regarding updates in the case.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
