March 6, 2008 - Curtis Jones, 47, a substitute at Jefferson Elementary School, was escorted from a school building Tuesday and arrested on three felony battery charges and one count of criminal recklessness involving elementary school students. Students at the school did not witness the arrest.
Prosecutors say Jones has been involved in repeated incidents of physical abuse involving fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders who attended Jefferson Elementary School.
Lake Criminal Court records allege he physically abused students as a form of discipline. Jones also used threats of suspension and refused to allow students to call their parents when they were hurt, the court documents say.Full Name: Curtis Louis Jones
In one case, Jones threw a basketball at a youngster's head when the child was standing on bleachers in the gym with his back to Jones, the court records say. The child suffered a skull contusion in that incident, authorities said.
Sometime between Oct. 1 and Oct. 31, another student reported Jones elbowed him in the shoulder, knocking him into a door, court records say. And a third Jefferson Elementary School student reported that on Nov. 8, Jones grabbed him by the back of his neck and shoved him into a wall at the school, court records say.
Gary police reported speaking with numerous students at the school as well as parents, and that other teachers knew about the allegations against Jones and sometimes called on Jones to discipline students, court records allege.
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A poster at the story summed it up: "" What the...? How the... was this teacher even allowed to teach another day after the FIRST incident!?!? If Gary Schools did not have such a bad financial situation, I would hope there would be a lawsuit. Unfortunately, in there situation it would do more harm than good to the other students. "
