Court records: Pike Township teacher facing neglect charges let students fight
A teacher at an Indianapolis elementary school stood by during a fight that left one boy with a head injury in February, according to court documents.
Charges were filed against Reshanda Allen on Tuesday, and a warrant for her arrest has been issued. She is facing two counts of neglect of a dependent in connection with the playground brawl at Guion Creek Elementary School.
Allen never reported the fight to school administrators, and the boys involved were not disciplined, according to a probable cause affidavit for her arrest.
The father of a 10-year-old boy reported the fight to the school’s administration the following day then police and the Indiana Department of Child Services were alerted.
From April: Despite teacher's disturbing video, school officials and DCS failed to involve police
The fight between the 10-year-old and a 9-year-old boy happened on Feb. 27 during recess.
“During the course of the fight, (the 10-year-old boy) was picked up and body slammed on the ground and at some point, struck his head,” the affidavit reads.
The 10-year-old boy’s father took him to the emergency room with a large lump on the back of his head during the evening after the fight. Investigators found surveillance footage of the fight as Allen stood by.
“(Allen) told the two juveniles if they are going to fight, then fight,” the affidavit reads.
The teacher did not try to stop the fight, the video showed. Once it was over, she failed to notify her bosses and parents of the students involved, according to the affidavit.
“Staff members have the assumed responsibility of students for the safety and wellbeing while in attendance of school,” the affidavit for Allen’s arrest reads. “Because of this obligation, Reshanda Allen knowingly and intentionally placed both juvenile students in a situation that endangered their health and wellness which she neglected."
The Metropolitan School District of Pike Township did not respond to questions from IndyStar before publication of this article, but TV news station WTHR has reported Allen is no longer employed by the school district.
When reached by phone for comment, Allen hung up on an IndyStar reporter. She does not yet have an attorney listed in online court records.
Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jake_Allen19.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Guion Creek Elementary teacher facing neglect charges after recess fight
