Principal accused of seriously injuring student with disability in assault in North Carolina
DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — Durham police said that three people have been arrested and charged in connection to a child abuse investigation that began in August.
Around 6:32 p.m. on August 21, officers responded to a report of child abuse that occurred at Research Triangle Charter Academy located in the 2400 block of Ellis Road.
Based on the investigation, police said a school employee, identified as 28-year-old Jeremy Raekwon Whitley, assaulted a student and caused serious physical injuries.
On November 4, Whitley was indicted on charges of felony child abuse inflicting serious physical injury, aggravated assault on an individual with a disability, misdemeanor child abuse and assault on a child under 12.
Whitley turned himself in on November 7 and was booked into the Durham County Jail. He was released on a $50,000 secured bond.
According to officers, 35-year-old Nicole Anne Scotto and 47-year-old Melanie Butler Stack, both employees of the school, have been indicted on charges of felony common law obstruction of justice and failure to report child abuse. They were both released on unsecured bonds.
A spokesperson for the school told CBS 17 that Whitley is "no longer employed at the school." Stack, who was the school's principal, resigned from her position, while Scotto — who is the dean of special education, according to the school's website — was placed on administrative leave.
"We were shocked to learn about these allegations and are cooperating fully with the police investigation," the spokesperson said. "While privacy rights and the ongoing investigation limit the details I can share, what I can say is that we do not take lightly the trust our parents place in us to provide their children with a safe learning environment. The well-being of our scholars remains one of our highest priorities."
Anyone with additional information is asked to call Investigator C. Park of the Durham Police Department's Special Victims Unit at 919-560-4440 ext. 29321.
