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A Baltimore school police officer has escaped a felony child abuse charge after being caught on video slapping and kicking a student outside a city high school last month, the Baltimore Sun reports.
Prosecutors dropped the felony charge on Thursday, the defense attorney of Anthony C. Spense announced. Now only two misdemeanor charges, second-degree assault and misconduct, remain. In light of the new development, Spence plans to contact the school district about resuming his pay, lawyer Warren Brown said. Spence was on suspension without pay from the school police force, because he faced a felony charge.
“When it’s all said and done, and the evidence is laid out, whether it’s a judge or jury that’s hearing the case, they should have some concern about the action of the victim of this case,” Brown said according to the son. “It’s a vile act that yields an emotional response.”
Brown accused the student of spitting on Spence, who slapped him in retaliation. Brown said that the student involved was a truant who had not been to school for months, only showing up that day on March 1 to get a bus pass.
“You’re dealing with some kids who are antisocial, lead-poisoned, irrational, angry, mired in poverty and despair,” he said. “It’s not ‘Leave It to Beaver.’ You’re dealing with a tough group of people.”
Brown believes most people would be sympathetic to Brown’s case, once learning that the student allegedly spat on Spence.
“We can’t give [school police officers] cart blanche, but by the same token, they’re human beings,” he said. “You spit on somebody, you should expect that there’s going to be a physical reaction. You’re assuming the risk. That’s just the reality.”
Read more at the Baltimore Sun.
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