Posted February 10, 2006.

Tennessee School Librarian Sued for Assault

A Humboldt, Tennessee, woman has filed suit against the city school system and East End Elementary School Librarian Emily Turner for damages involving the librarian’s alleged assault on a 6-year-old student. Devonna Burnett brought the charges in U.S. District Court in Jackson February 3, claiming that her son suffered emotional distress and physical injuries from the incident, which took place in February 2005, the Jackson Sun reported February 9.

According to the suit, the incident started when the Turner asked the boy to stop talking and playing while she was reading to other students in the school library. He persisted, and Turner dragged him to a closet where he stayed screaming until other school officials let him out. The suit says that Turner grabbed the boy, dragging him by his shirt collar, and kicked him in his back as he fled to the school office.

After the incident, School Superintendent Butch Twyman, who is also named in the suit, ordered Turner to get anger management training and suspended her for 10 days, according to the Sun. Turner faced a criminal charge for assault in March, but a grand jury could not find sufficient grounds for a case.

Posted February 10, 2006.