DC Student Tied Up by Elementary School Volunteer

A student at Hearst Elementary School in northwest D.C. accused an adult volunteer at the school of binding his hands and legs with packing tape on May 12.

According to a police incident report, the student said the volunteer asked him if he wanted to play a game of cops and robbers. The volunteer said that the student had put tape on his wrists first and that he responded by taping the student’s wrists. But the unidentified student told police that his wrists and legs were taped against his will and that he feared he would be injured.

The incident report said the student hopped into the hallway, screaming for someone to call 911 before the volunteer cut the tape off the student.

The incident was reported to a teacher, who informed the school’s principal, who in turn called police.

Principal William Kerlina said that the accused adult will not be allowed to volunteer at the school any more. While he doesn’t think there was any malice directed toward the child, the adult did exercise poor judgment, Kerlina said.

D.C. police are investigating the incident as a simple assault.

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