A 35-year-old Elk City has been changed with willful child abuse after a police investigation.
The investigation began on March 1, 2023. The school resource officer had contacted an Elk City Police Department officer in relation to a possible assault at the Elk City Elementary School.
“According to SRO Sgt. The reporting officer wrote that “Cheney, he had been contacted by Elk City Public Schools Superintendent Mike Sparks regarding a teacher allegedly slapping a child,” the reporting officer wrote.
Upon arrival, the ECPD officer was met by the superintendent and a principal.
The report states that the principal said she had been alerted via test message by one of the paraprofessionals that Special Education teacher Gena Davis had struck a student.
Two paraprofessionals were reportedly present to witness the alleged abuse.
The alleged victim was reportedly non-verbal.
School officials reportedly stated that the student had no visible markings on the face.
The probable cause affidavit further details the allegations, but due to the sensitive nature, the Beckham County Record withholds those details.
The allegations stem from an alleged “open hand” strike to the face of the student.
On a scale of 1-10, the paraprofessionals reportedly scored the alleged strike as a “6.”
During an interview with an ECPD detective, Davis was read her Miranda rights and reportedly chose to speak with law enforcement.
The reporting officer wrote, “’Davis said, I had put my hand over his mouth to kinda muffl e the sound. You know, like everybody does with their littles, you know.’ She said this was done to make noises’ out of the screaming.’ While stating this, Davis demonstrated that her words by first using her left hand and putting her index finger over her lips. Davis then switched to using her right hand and placing four fingers over her mouth, and patting her lips while speaking. According to Davis (omitted), then bit her hand. Davis later indicated the bite had occurred on her right dorsal interosseous muscle. Davis stated, ‘But I can’t complain because I wasn’t wearing my Kevlar. We have Kevlar gloves in my room, and I get in trouble because we don’t just wear them all day long because they are not.’ David said she then gave (omitted) a ‘pop on the cheek,’” Investigators believe this was a confession. Although the investigation began in March, Davis wasn’t officially charged in Beckham County District Court until June 5.
Elk City Superintendent Mike Sparks confi rmed that Davis resigned immediately.
Sparks said he and the elementary principal immediately alerted authorities upon learning of the alleged abuse.
Sparks added that he and the principal met immediately with the child’s parent and took the allegations seriously.
