School officials say assault was captured on tape

An assault of a 13-year-old girl by a 14-year-old boy at Gaffney Middle School was caught on tape Oct. 22, school officials said.

Now the boy is not only facing trouble in Family Court for an alleged assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, school officials confirmed he also is facing expulsion.

According to a report from the Gaffney Police Department, the girl said she and the boy were in a lunch room at Gaffney Middle School at about 4:40 p.m. when he pulled her down to the floor. When the girl attempted to get up, she claimed the boy pulled her down again and he kept putting his hand inside her shirt.

She claimed the boy then dragged her into a boy's bathroom across the hall and groped on her buttocks.

Police said the young girl told them she subsequently was able to get up and run away from the boy and headed for a school office to tell officials.

Police said the incident in the lunch room was captured on a video camera system at the school and that a copy of the tape was turned over to police.

Due to the ages of the victim and subject, police did not release their names. Their parents couldn't be reached for comment as a result.

Gaffney Middle School Principal Jean Brewington was the complainant in the police report.

District Superintendent Dr. Bill James said the incident occurred during a Communities in Schools after-school program.

Gaffney Middle is one of four schools hosting the after-school program, which is operated separately from the school district.

He said the incident occurred while tutors had taken some students out of the cafeteria to participate in a recreation program.

Police were on the scene within minutes of the assault report and James said officials from Communities in Schools were notified as well. He said it was his understanding Communities in Schools would be making some policy changes as a result of the incident.

A call placed to the executive director of Communities in Schools was not immediately returned Friday.

James confirmed the district is going to recommend that the young boy be expelled.