Teacher punching special needs student caught on video
Posted at: 07/23/2011 9:52 AM
By: Gadi Schwartz, KOB Eyewitness News 4; Danielle Flores, KOB.com
KOB Eyewitness News 4 spoke with a special needs student who was punched in the face by a teacher after being drenched with water from a hose.
Sonny Romero, 14, and his grandmother watched video of a fight between Romero and an Espanola High School science teacher.
The video shot by another student showed teacher John Reese trying to get Romero to go back to his own class.
In the video, Reese is heard saying something about Romero's mother.
"No I'd never done your mother, probably wouldn't want to," Reese said.
Romero's grandmother said his mother died of cancer when he was young and he gets angry when people talk about her.
Reese's class was outside building a fence when the encounter happened. At one point, the video showed Reese picking up a hose and drenching Romero.
Romero picked up a pole and swung it at Reese who charged forward and punched Romero in the face.
Romero then threw a rock at Reese and left.
Reese was arrested shortly after and Romero was referred to a probation officer.
Sources told KOB that administrators saw the video and terminated Reese's contract.
Reese had been arrested on felony assault charges but those were dropped. There is a chance they can still be re-filed.
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