Video released showing altercation between Vance County assistant principal and student; No charges filed
HENDERSON, N.C. (WTVD) -- The Vance County District Attorney said no charges will be filed against an assistant principal previously accused of assaulting a 12-year-old female student.
In December, the girl's family told Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame that Assistant Principal Kevin Ross pushed her into a locker and dislocated her shoulder. After reviewing surveillance video of the interaction between Ross and the girl, District Attorney Michael Waters said he could not find sufficient evidence to file charges against Ross.
In a video recorded Dec. 11 and released Wednesday by the Vance County District Attorney's Office, assistant principal Kevin Ross is seen pushing the student against a wall of Vance County Middle School after taking her cell phone away.
FULL RAW VIDEO OF INCIDENT
Vance County District Attorney Michael Waters said the student got her cell phone from her backpack as she was changing classes, which is a violation of school policy.
After an exchange between Ross and the student, he then appears to slam her against a locker. At this point, School Resource Office Warren Durham stands between the two and other students who were going down the hallway.
Near the end of the video, as the student turns to retrieve her bag, Ross steps into her path as she turns. She then follows him as the clip ends.
Waters said Ross used appropriate force to control the student's behavior. "After review of the video, and this juvenile's medical records it cannot be determined that she suffered any serious injury," Waters wrote in his official statement.
According to the statement, Ross' actions were "governed by NCGS 115C-390.3, which states school personnel may use reasonable force to force or control behavior for the purpose of 1) correcting students or 6) to maintain order on educational property."
That didn't sit well with the girl's mother, who told ABC11 that she was so upset she walked out of the meeting with the district attorney after learning there would be no charges.
"You mean to tell me my daughter got to be halfway dead for you to charge this man for putting his hand on her?" Roslyn Wynn said.
Wynn said her daughter is traumatized and is still receiving medical care for her injuries.
Vance County Schools suspended Ross after the accusation.
The accusations came days after video showed SRO Durham slamming a student to the ground. Durham was fired and later charged with misdemeanor child abuse in connection to the incident.
On Wednesday, Vance County Schools released a statement saying that "at this time, we plan to meet with our attorney and Kevin Ross to bring closure to the personnel portion of this matter, as outlined in our school board policy."
Ross has been with the school district for about two years.
Moving forward, the school system said all Vance County school resource officers attended a two-day training session on Jan. 14 and 15 to "ensure.that nothing like this ever happens again."
"As always, safety is our top priority and we are committed to educating our students in an environment that is welcoming and safe," Vance County Schools said.
RELATED: Vance Middle SRO charged with misdemeanor child abuse after slamming 11-year-old student
