A former bus attendant for Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) is facing accusations. Police claimed she struck a special needs student with a plastic sign.
According to a criminal complaint, employees at the APS Special Education Diagnostic Center noticed a student with new scratch marks on the back of their neck in early September.
Police say the video shows a bus attendant, Debbie Chavira, striking a student with a plastic sign.
The complaint alleges that Chavira repeatedly hit the student on the arm, neck, torso, face, and other regions beginning in late August.
“We do not tolerate this kind of behavior. Upon discovering what was happening, we immediately placed bus attendant Debbie Chavira on leave and notified the APS Police Department. APS police launched an investigation and filed criminal charges,” said APS Communications Director Martin Salazar.
Chavira was booked into MDC on Friday. She faces five counts of child abuse. APS verified to News 13 that Chavira had left the district and resigned early last month.