Baltimore Teacher Arrested For Striking 11-Year-Old Student

=RadioOnFire.com - A Baltimore City teacher has been charged after an assault on a sixth-grade student was recorded on cellphone video.

Baltimore police media relations Chief T.J. Smith said school police contacted city police Monday about a teacher who is accused of striking an 11-year-old student on Friday at Waverly Elementary-Middle School.

Smith said cellphone video showed 29-year-old teacher Taurean Branch, of Parkville, striking the boy in the midsection.

"Apparently, there was some sort of issue going on with the student prior to the incident taking place," Smith said. "The video showed the teacher striking the student."

Police said evidence includes interviews from witnesses and cellphone video.

Smith said police consulted with prosecutors, and custodial child abuse and second-degree assault charges were filed against Branch, who turned himself in to police Tuesday.

The student was taken to a hospital for an observation and was released.

Smith said investigators have no reason to believe that there are other victims of assault at the school.

A Baltimore City Public Schools spokeswoman released a statement Tuesday evening, saying:

“Taurean Branch is currently on administrative leave, pending Baltimore City police's investigation into an incident that occurred at Waverly Elementary/Middle School. Mr. Branch has been employed by the district since January 2013.”

Source WBAL