School Aide Repeatedly Struck Special Needs Child With Ball: Cops

BRADENTON, FL -- A school aide at a Florida elementary school repeatedly struck a five-year-old special needs pupil with a heavy rubber ball with so much force that the child was "knocked backwards" into a chain-link fence, the Bradenton Police Department said Wednesday.

What's more, police said that the child's teacher witnessed the incident but did not intervene or notify school officials.

Forty-year-old Quintin Bradley was charged with child abuse without great harm. Police said charges against the teacher are pending for failure to report the incident.

"During subsequent interviewing, Mr. Bradley admitted to the allegations and stated he did it because the child wouldn't stop crying," said Bradenton police.

Another school employee who witnessed the incident alerted school officials, who called the Florida Abuse Hotline.

The incident occurred during recess on Feb. 7 at the school playground but was made public Wednesday afternoon.

Bradenton police said the entire incident was captured on surveillance video. The child suffers from nonverbal autism.

"The paraprofessional retrieved the ball and threw it as the child twice more," Bradenton police explained. "He then used the ball's handle to strike the child in the head, teased the child with the threat of a harder throw and threw it a final time."

Police said the child was visibly upset and was crying before the ball was first thrown. The Manatee County Child Protective Services was also contacted.

Bradenton police said that they have been working with the State Attorney's Office on the charges against the teacher.

To report a tip, call Sgt. Christopher Deshaies at 941-932-9329 or send an email to crimetips@cityofbradenton.com. Alternatively, call Manatee Crime Stoppers at 866-634-8477 (TIPS) or visit www.manateecrimestoppers.com.