Former Principal Facing Cruelty Charges After Video Shows Him Shoving Special Needs Child

An ex-elementary school principal is facing charges of cruelty to a minor after a recording depicted him seemingly shoving a student to the floor.

In the footage, the ex-principal of Wolters Elementary School, in Fresno, California,

Brian Vollhardt,

is observed pushing the student in the chest, making him fall. The incident occurred during breakfast, on June 7.

The Fresno Unified School District stated that Vollhardt and other employees were interacting with a special needs child. The principal then decided to “aggressively shove the student down” rather than de-escalating the situation.”

As the district began to start discipline procedures against Vollhardt, he quit and no longer works for the school district.

Bob Nelson, the superintendent of the district, said that Vollhardt’s behavior was “repugnant” and “absolutely not tolerated at any level within Fresno Unified.” The district added that the occurrence has been reported to authorities and Child Protective Services.

Reports indicate that the occurence was given to police on June 9, but the police chief didn’t find out about it until September 6.

On September 26, Vollhardt is set to be arraigned on a misdemeanor charge of willful cruelty to a minor.