Special education teacher arrested in Texas for throwing, injuring autistic student

A Texas special education teacher was arrested Monday and charged with assaulting an autistic student during class.

Shaq Morales, a special needs teacher at Banuelos Elementary School, allegedly threw an autistic student to the ground, causing a bloody nose and a bruised face.

The alleged incident occurred on April 18, when the teacher’s aide stepped out of the classroom, according to Click2Houston.com.

When the aide returned, she found the student crying with a bloody nose, according to court documents. She suggested taking the student to the school nurse, but Morales assured her the student was fine and had simply hit his face on the floor while running around the classroom.

When the student returned to class after the weekend, the aide noticed the student’s face was visibly bruised. She took photos of the student’s bruises and shared her concerns with the school’s counselor on April 30. 

An investigation into the incident began the next day.  

Video evidence from the classroom showed the student initially seated before walking around with a dry-erase whiteboard. When the student threw the whiteboard to the ground after Morales told him to put it away, the teacher allegedly responded by forcefully grabbing the student’s arm, lifting him, and throwing him to the floor. The student hit his face on the ground and began crying. 

Without checking on the student or offering aid, Morales picked up the student’s items and returned to his desk. 

Morales now faces charges of injury to a child – serious bodily injury, and is being held on a $40,000 bond. 

Following Morales’ arrest, Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District released this statement, obtained by Click2Houston: 

“Goose Creek CISD acknowledges the arrest of a former special education teacher, Shaq Morales, in connection with an incident involving a student. Upon receiving notice of this concern, the campus administration promptly removed Mr. Morales from his teaching duties, initiated an investigation, and notified law enforcement, resulting in Mr. Morales’ separation from employment. 

“Despite his resignation and absence from campus, the District continues to fully cooperate with law enforcement. Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation and the confidentiality surrounding personnel and student matters, we are unable to provide further details. Goose Creek CISD places utmost importance on student safety and remains dedicated to ensuring a secure and nurturing learning environment for all students.”