‘Go with your gut’: Mom of Keller child allegedly restrained by teacher speaks out
A 4-year-old autistic Keller girl who allegedly was held down by her elementary school teacher after refusing to take a nap had nightmares for days after the incident, her mother told the Star-Telegram.
The child’s mother, Jennifer McMoy-Brown, went to the Keller Police Department on March 3 to report that Charissa Newport, a teacher at Shady Grove Elementary School, restrained the girl for about 10 minutes during nap time on Feb. 9, the Star-Telegram previously reported.
Newport, 45, was arrested April 1 and charged with unlawful restraint of a child under the age of 17.
McMoy-Brown first learned of the incident on Presidents Day, when the school’s principal called to inform her, she said.
“He said one of the aides in her classroom had witnessed Ms. Newport pinning her down to her nap mat because she would not take a nap,” McMoy-Brown said. The principal told McMoy-Brown that the aide reported seeing Newport restrain the girl by lying down next to her and placing a hand on each of the child’s shoulders.
The aide demonstrated for a Keller police detective how the teacher restrained the child, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. The restraint lasted about 10 minutes while the child was “screaming and hollering,” her mother said.
McMoy-Brown told the principal she could even recall the date the incident occurred because of the way her child looked coming out of school, she said.
“She just looked drained, like someone that had chemotherapy,” McMoy-Brown said. “She was pitiful.”
Keller ISD did not respond to a request for comment on the case. According to an arrest warrant affidavit, the school district told Keller police that Newport was placed on administrative leave on Feb. 19 during the investigation.
School officials told Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV that the district is cooperating with law enforcement, but cannot provide additional details because of personnel and legal issues.
The police detective called Newport on the phone on March 13, and Newport said she had hired an attorney, the affidavit states. The detective asked the teacher if she and her lawyer would be willing to meet to discuss the criminal investigation, and Newport said she would consult with her attorney, according to the affidavit. The detective later left several voicemails for Newport to try to arrange an interview but had not heard back at the time of her arrest on April 1.
School officials reported the incident to Texas Child Protective Services, but the agency did not pursue an investigation, McMoy-Brown said. After the incident, the child, who is mostly nonverbal, would wake up saying, “Help me, help me,” and crying, her mother said.
“It kills me because I trusted Ms. Newport,” McMoy-Brown said. “I did. When I first met her, I was like, she’s gonna be the mom when I’m not there.”
McMoy-Brown advises other parents who may find themselves in a similar situation to “go with your gut feeling.”
“If you think something’s wrong, then follow that and investigate it,” McMoy-Brown said.
