A staff member from Mount Carmel Academy in West Orange, N.J., was arrested Tuesday after surveillance footage allegedly showed him assaulting an 11-year-old student with autism.
The video obtained by PIX11 News shows what appears to be staffer Jaron Spicer slamming student Zaire Smith to the ground and holding him in the same position for several minutes.
In total, the incident lasted around 30 minutes as the two struggled; other staff members observed without intervening.
“It was very hard to watch,” the boy’s mother, Niasia Smith, told the outlet. “You could tell he was in pain and I felt that.”
Spicer was taken into custody after the family’s lawyer filed claims against the school and contacted police and the Essex County prosecutor’s office.
He faces several charges, including endangering, abuse and neglect of a child, and simple assault. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison. The Smith family has also obtained a restraining order against Spicer.
Zaire’s father, Kevion Smith, said he’s relieved Spicer will be held accountable, adding, “I’m so glad he won’t be able to do this to another child.”
The family’s lawyer, Ben Pinczewski, stated two additional families came forward with similar allegations of mistreatment.