Indiana teacher who hit student is arrested and could face battery charge

South Bend Tribune
·2 min read

ELKHART — The Jimtown High School teacher who was caught on video hitting a student has been arrested, and authorities are recommending a felony charge of battery.

Mike Hosinski, 61, was taken into custody late Thursday afternoon, the Elkhart County Sheriff's Office said in a release.

The release said a recommendation for a felony charge of battery has been sent to the county prosecutor's office.

Michael Hosinski
Michael Hosinski

Hosinski, a social studies teacher at Jimtown, struck a student in the head last Friday in a school hallway. The incident was caught on video.

Jimtown High School is located in Elkhart and is part of the Baugo Community Schools district.

A press release from the school district said Hosinski confronted the student about a hoodie worn to class. The video shows Hosinski following the student down a hallway and grabbing the boy's backpack before striking him. The student's head smacked against the wall, and he fell to the floor shortly after.

School officials said the student suffered visible injuries and required immediate medical attention.

Indiana teacher slaps student: What we know about Jimtown High School, Mike Hosinski incident

Hosinski had previously requested retirement at the end of the school year, but he submitted a new request following the incident to leave immediately. The Baugo school board on Monday night voted unanimously to award Hosinski early retirement and allow him to collect his pension.

One expert, Jennifer Drobac, a professor at Indiana University’s law school, told the Tribune earlier this week that prosecutors would have to determine whether Hosinski's actions were "reasonably necessary."

Indiana code states teachers “may take any action that is reasonably necessary to carry out or to prevent an interference with an educational function,” including physical discipline.

“We don’t know the background,” Drobac said. “But I can guess that it should have been reasonably possible for that teacher simply to escort that child to the principal’s office for further discussion and potentially non-physical disciplinary action.”

For prosecutors to file a felony charge against Hosinski, she added, they would have to conclude his actions inflicted “moderate bodily injury” to the student.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Jimtown High teacher who hit student arrested, may face battery charge