A Florida teacher is facing serious charges after allegedly assaulting a student while playing basketball at school. The incident, which resulted in the boy losing a tooth, has raised concerns about the safety of students in the educational system.
The accused teacher, James Bellamy, was taken into custody on Monday and charged with child abuse and battery. According to the Palatka Police Department, officers responded to a call from the 12-year-old victim’s mother, who informed them that her son had been struck by a teacher at Putnam Academy of Arts and Sciences in Palatka.
Upon arrival, officers were shown a video of Bellamy and the boy playing basketball on school grounds. The footage revealed the shocking incident where Bellamy can be seen throwing the ball at the student and later elbowing him in the mouth, resulting in the loss of one of the child’s teeth.
The victim’s mother told authorities that she was deeply disturbed by the incident and demanded justice for her son. She further added that the incident had left her son traumatized and fearful of attending school.
Putnam Academy of Arts & Sciences teacher James Bellamy, 41, has been charged with child abuse & battery. He allegedly elbowed a child in the face, knocking out one of the child’s teeth.https://t.co/yP1RRdwaWQ
— Orietta Rose 🇺🇲 (@0riettaRose) December 7, 2023
In a statement released by the Palatka Police Department, it was revealed that the child had confirmed what had happened to the officers. He stated that Bellamy had become angry at him during the game, believing that he had intentionally hit the teacher’s arm or head. The child also revealed that Bellamy had called him back onto the court, where he proceeded to throw the ball at the boy and then elbow him in the mouth.
The young victim’s account of the incident was corroborated by the video evidence obtained by the police. The footage showed Bellamy getting visibly agitated during the game and acting aggressively towards the student.
Upon questioning, Bellamy admitted to the officers that he had indeed elbowed the child and threw the ball at him. He claimed that the boy had hit him first, and he had called him back onto the court to confront him. However, he denied intentionally harming the child.
Bellamy was subsequently arrested and is currently being held at the local jail without bail. The incident has sparked outrage in the community, with many calling for stricter measures to ensure the safety of students at school.
The Putnam Academy of Arts and Sciences did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the incident. Parents of students at the school expressed their concern over the incident, with some calling for Bellamy’s immediate termination. They also demanded more thorough background checks and stricter disciplinary actions against teachers to prevent incidents like this from happening in the future.
The safety and well-being of students should always be the top priority in any educational institution. The alleged assault on the 12-year-old boy by his teacher has shed light on the need for stricter protocols and measures to be put in place to protect students. As this case progresses, many are hopeful that it will serve as a wake-up call for schools to take proactive steps to ensure the safety of their students.
