District 170 Middle School Admins Suspended While Video Investigated

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL — A principal and assistant principal at Chicago Heights Middle School are suspended pending an investigation into an incident in which a 12-year-old girl was dragged and put on the ground outside the middle school last week.

According to District 170 Superintendent Tom Amadio, school officials are aware of a video and post regarding the alleged incident circulating on social media. In it, Chicago Heights resident and father of the student Cornelius Dawson says administrators treated his daughter in a way that was "not acceptable."

"You will be held accountable as you want us to be held accountable for our children," Dawson wrote. "You had no business putting your hands on my baby girl."

Dawson provided footage of the incident, which shows the student waving to another student on the school bus before two adults pull her arms down and drag her back towards the front of the school. Another adult appears in the frame and looks on as the girl appears to be lowered to the ground.

A person in the background of the footage can be heard saying, "What are they doing to her? They do not have to touch her like that," to which an adult's voice is heard responding, "They are keeping her safe right now."

Amadio said the district is investigating the behavior and cannot comment further, but said school officials are "often faced with challenging student situations."

Dawson and other parents and residents protested outside the middle school on Tuesday morning. During the protest, Dawson said he still respects district officials and stressed the importance for "accountability on both ends."

Dawson's attorney, Cannon Lambert of Karchmar & Lambert, P.C., did not respond to Patch's request for comment on what legal action the Dawson family will pursue, if any.