Oct 5, 2009 11:14 pm US/Eastern
Man Accused Of Assaulting Child With Down Syndrome
RANDALLSTOWN, Md. (WJZ) ―
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Police say a Baltimore County man is facing charges, accused of assaulting a first grader with Down syndrome at Winfield Elementary School.
CBS
A Baltimore County man is facing charges, accused of assaulting a first grader with Down syndrome. Police say the attack happened outside Winfield Elementary School.
Kai Jackson has reaction from the boy's mother.
Ronald Matthews is charged with assault. The mother of the child he's accused of assaulting is angry with him and the school system, which she accuses of being too slow to act.
"Joshua is traumatized," said Donna Dyson.
Dyson is furious over what happened on Sept. 22 at Winfield Elementary in Randallstown.
"My son was a victim of a second-degree assault," Dyson said.
Baltimore County Police say Ronald Matthews, 27, went to Winfield Elementary and assaulted Dyson's seven-year-old son in the school lunchroom and spit in his face in front of students and adults.
"Went down to the cafeteria where he found the boy who he felt had done something to his son," said Bill Toohey, Baltimore County Police. "According to witnesses, he threw him against a wall."
According to witnesses, several adults pulled Matthews off the boy. He was told to leave the school, but apparently the police were not immediately called. According to charging documents, Matthews claimed Dyson's son hit his son, who's also seven.
"The other student went home the night before and told his parents that my son hit him," Dyson said.
Dyson says her son has Down syndrome.
In addition to her anger at Matthews, she's frustrated with the school.
"There are no security measures in place to protect our children," she said. "He still is very emotional."
Eyewitness News spoke to Ron Matthews' mother, who had no comment because she wasn't there. She said that she had encouraged her son to get an attorney.
Dyson says she was told her son would have to leave Winfield Elementary, but a school board official said no decision has been made.
A court date has been set for Nov. 19.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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