After being seen on video pushing a 9-year-old special needs student, a former Fresno Unified principal has been charged with child abuse and endangerment.
The Fresno Unified School District revealed security footage earlier this week showing Brian Vollhardt, the now-resigned principal of Wolters Elementary School, shoving an unnamed 9-year-old student to the ground in June while he and other staff members were working with the "upset student."
Prior to Vollhardt pushing the student in the video, the student makes two finger-pointing motions toward the former principal. What occurred before the incident is unclear.
After the Fresno school district opened an inquiry into the confrontation on June 7, Brian Vollhardt left his position at Wolters Elementary School. Vollhardt was then hired by the Golden Plains Unified School District as a vice principal. The superintendent of the school district says Vollhardt has been placed on administrative leave since the school learned about the event on Wednesday.
He now faces a charge of willful cruelty to a minor, police and school officials announced during a press conference on Thursday.
According to court documents, Vollhardt will be arraigned for the alleged crime September 26.