Florida classroom assistant jailed after 'knee-jerk' physical reaction to 6-year-old autism student's behavior: Cops

Florida classroom assistant jailed after ‘knee-jerk’ physical reaction to 6-year-old autism student’s behavior: Cops


A 65-year-old male working as a substitute classroom assistant at a Florida elementary school was arrested for child abuse last week, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said.

David Jones was assigned to a special-needs classroom at Oakhurst Elementary School in Largo, deputies said.

‘As a special-needs mom, I’d probably be in a lot of trouble if that was my kid.’

After lunch on Sept. 15, a 6-year-old — who has autism and is semi-verbal — was hitting and kicking as a sign of communication, deputies said.

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Jones swung a lunch box containing a metal canister, striking the victim in the face and causing a welt on the victim’s forehead, deputies said.

On Sept.16, deputies said Jones admitted to the incident and stated it was a “knee-jerk” reaction when dealing with

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