School Staffer Charged With Striking 6-Year-old Developmentally Disabled Student: Reports

CRANSTON, RI — An Ocean State Academy staff member was charged with repeatedly striking a developmentally disabled 6-year-old student, according to reports.

"According to police, they responded to Ocean State Academy on 1301 Elmwood Ave. at around 9:09 a.m. on Tuesday after a report of an assault," WJAR reported.

"During the initial investigation, officers reviewed video evidence provided by the school," per GoLocalProv. "The video showed a staff member striking a 6-year-old student multiple times with an open hand inside a classroom. The child is reported to have significant developmental impairments and limited verbal ability, said Cranston Police."

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The staffer, 32-year-old Timesha Harley of Providence, may have filmed the assault herself.

"Maj. Todd Patalano told 12 News the video evidence came from a device the employee was wearing," WPRI reported.

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“Usually, we don’t have somebody record their own incident,” Patalano said told WPRI. “I believe it was a pair of glasses that recorded their movements and so forth during the day.”

Harley was charged with assault on a person with severe impairments. She was released on her own recognizance and her arraignment was scheduled for April 23.

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Harley was "immediately terminated by the school upon discovery of the incident," a Fall River Reporter story said

"The victim is receiving appropriate care and support," according to the Fall River Reporter. "The Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families was notified and is involved in the ongoing review."

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According to its website, "Ocean State Academy specializes in meeting the diverse educational and behavioral needs of K–12+ students (ages 5–21) with psychiatric and social-emotional difficulties."

"Every day for every student, we concentrate on implementing leading-edge best practices that quickly and effectively guide students to meaningful growth, sustainable success, and student empowerment," the site said.

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