A paraprofessional at the Special Education District of Lake County was charged with hitting a 7-year-old student in the head with a pillow, police said.
Justin Cole, 35, of the 2400 block of 82nd Street in Kenosha, Wisconsin, was charged with one count of battery, a Class A misdemeanor.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office was notified on February 27 of an incident where a paraprofessional at the Special Education District of Lake County in Gages Lake used excessive force while interacting with a 7-year-old.
Lake County Sheriff Spokesman Sgt. Christopher Covelli said that SEDOL administration notified the sheriff’s office and deputies began investigation.
Covelli said that the paraprofessional, identified as Cole, was in an intervention office with the 7-year-old boy when the boy pushed Cole.
“Cole responded by picking up a pillow and struck the seven-year-old in the head, utilizing the pillow as a barrier between the boy’s head and Cole’s hand. This caused the boy to fall to the ground and begin crying,” Covelli said.
SEDOL administration took immediate action and terminated Cole’s employment.
Following the investigation, the sheriff’s office reviewed the case with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office. The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office drafted an arrest warrant for Cole on the battery charge and a judge signed it on Friday.
Cole surrendered to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office on Monday and appeared in court. He was released on a $25,000 recognizance bond and is scheduled to appear in court again on May 14.