Indiana teacher charged with battery in student's discipline

WARSAW, Ind. (AP) - A northern Indiana teacher faces a battery charge for allegedly causing an 8-year-old student to repeatedly fall down while disciplining the child.

Debra Wiley, 58, was arrested Friday after officers were called to Harrison Elementary School on reports from several teachers that another teacher had physically disciplined a child at the Warsaw school, WSBT-TV reported.

According to court documents, Wiley was caught on camera forcibly trying to make the child sit down. In that 8-minute-long video, the student is seen standing against a wall when Wiley repeatedly grabbed the youngster's ankles, causing the child to fall, the documents state.

At one point, Wiley allegedly grabbed the student's ankle and dragged the child 'œapproximately seven feet across the carpeted hallway'ť to where she wanted the child to sit and also used her hands and body weight to repeatedly 'œpin the child to the ground,'ť according to court documents.

Wiley was charged with one count of battery on a person under the age of 14. She was released from the Kosciusko County Jail after posting bond and faces an Oct. 19 initial court hearing.

Online court records do not list an attorney who could speak on Wiley's behalf.

The Warsaw Community School District said in a statement that not include Wiley's name that after learning of the teacher's conduct it immediately suspended the teacher and had begun 'œthe statutory process to terminate the teacher's employment.'ť

Warsaw is located about 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of Indianapolis.