Parents Come To Defense Of Principal Accused Of Child Abuse

TAMPA, FL – Parents of students at Coleman Middle School in Tampa are coming to the defense of the school’s principal who was accused of abusing a student earlier this week.

Tampa Police spokesman Eddy Durkin said police are investigating a March 21 allegation of physical abuse by a student against Coleman Middle School Principal Mike Hoskinson, 53 (see related article).

However, at a press conference Thursday, March 29, several parents came forward to publicly say they witnessed the confrontation between Hoskinson and the student. They said the student was out of control and Hoskinson simply tried to restrain him.

According to Tampa police, the 13-year-old student called 911 at 4:20 p.m. March 21 to report that he got into a verbal altercation with Hoskinson that became physical. The student said the principal grabbed him by the back of the neck and pulled him out of the crosswalk. When the student began to pull away, he said the principal grabbed him by the waist and threw him into some nearby bushes.

Parents told a different story.

Jackson Krout said the teen was using profanity and acting unruly. He said Hoskinson had to subdue the student so he wouldn’t injure other children. But he said the middle school principal acted appropriately.

“I don't think there was any line crossed,” concurred parent Denise Battle, who also witnessed the altercation.

Hillsborough County School District spokeswoman Tanya Arja said school parents received a robocall Wednesday alerting them to the complaint against Hoskinson. The principal has been temporarily reassigned while police investigate the complaint against him.

However, Hoskinson’s attorney, Rick Escobar, said his client has been made a target since a teenage family member accused him of physical abuse last November (see related story).

The teen admitted to lying and Hoskinson was cleared of those charges.

Since this most recent allegation came to light, Escobar said Hoskinson has been bombarded with calls and notes from parents and teachers expressing support for him.

Nevertheless, said Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan, his department has an obligation to investigate charges like these.

So far, he said, detectives have interviewed the student who made the complaints, 11 other students and four adults.

"We owe it to the student who made the call, and to the principal, to be fair and thorough in our investigation," Dugan said. "Our detectives have done that. At this time, the results of our investigation have been shared with the State Attorney's Office so they can determine whether a crime occurred."

The one person detectives have not spoken with is Hoskinson himself.

"Through his attorney, Mr. Hoskinson declined our requests to speak with him to get his side of the story," Dugan said.

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