Arrest Warrants Detail Charges Against Suffield Officials

Editor's note: one name was removed from this article as charges were dropped.

SUFFIELD, CT — Affidavits supporting the arrest warrants for Suffield superintendent of schools Karen Berasi and (removed) have been made available to Patch Media by Suffield police.

Berasi, 68, who has been superintendent since 2015, and (removed), turned themselves in Thursday morning. Each was charged with failure to report suspected child abuse or neglect, as required by their statuses as mandated reporters.

The charges against each woman involve separate cases.

According to the warrant, Berasi became aware via email from a parent of an "inappropriate conversation" between a 17-year-old female high school student and the school psychologist. The conversation allegedly turned to "the VIP store in Manchester" and "sex toys," which made the complainant's daughter "completely uncomfortable." The parent requested Berasi conduct "a full investigation into this occurrence" and remove the psychologist from her child's program immediately, as well as demanding "they are never to be alone together."

In a reply to that email, Berasi assured the parent "a full investigation of this allegation" would begin immediately, and the district would notify the Department of Children and Families, "who will determine if they will do their own independent investigation."

The psychologist admitted upon questioning from Berasi that the VIP store had come up in coversation with the student, but in the context of the student's inquiries into "buying vapes" and "pawn[ing] a relative's jewelry," according to the warrant.

In a recorded conversation with a DCF employee obtained by the Suffield Police Department, Berasi stated, "Ordinarily, I would not report this, and so before I report it I want to tell you, I think this is a false claim." Berasi said she felt "the allegations were not credible," and "the child presents with lying behaviors, and significant underlying needs," according to the warrant. She cited an email from Oct. 10, 2017 from the parent which "stated that the student lies."

An investigative social worker from DCF said "the department does not have enough evidence to support the allegations" and issued a finding of unsubstantiated.

In the case of (removed)'s arrest, a warrant indicates a summer camp employee was informed on or about July 3 that a camper "was talking about his father abusing his younger brother," specifically that he "throws his little brother around the room."

"(removed) stated she knew the family very well" and decided to call the child's mother regarding the allegations. She did not make a report to DCF, the warrant states.

(removed) waited nearly a month, until Aug. 2, before reporting the incident to her superior, the Director of Parks and Recreation. She was immediately placed on paid administrative leave, according to the warrant.

Berasi and (removed) are both scheduled to appear in Enfield Superior Court Nov. 20.

Photos courtesy of Suffield Police Department

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