School Aide Accused Of Beating Up Student

March 20, 2010

Posted: 9:35 am EDT March 20,2010

Updated: 11:32 am EDT March 20,2010

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. -- Two Fulton County School Bus employees lost their jobs

after an incident caught on school bus video.

Bus video showed school bus aide Betty Burden grabbing an autistic 10-year-old

and putting him in a head-lock. The victim, Jonah , suffered bruises on

his face and swollen eyes.

The student's mother, Cassandra Lawrence-Rainey, was outraged when she saw the

injuries to her son after he got off the school bus March 4.

" Nobody's gonna hurt my baby, nobody. Momma's gonna see to that, " said

Lawrence-Rainey.

Burden told 's mother she intervened after , who has autism, ADHD

and is developmentally delayed, had been involved in an altercation with another

student on the special education bus.

" Restraining does not come by restraining someone by the face, " said

Lawrence-Rainey.

The school bus driver, Elmira Dixen, was seen on video walking to the back of

the bus, where the alleged beating was taking place, and telling the bus aide

something. Dixen was then seen on video, covering the camera up.

" I couldn't breathe when she did it, " said .

" Protocols are in place and they were not followed. Immediately upon learning

about this situation from the parent we launched an investigation. Based on our

findings, we made the decision to terminate the bus employees and file criminal

charges, " Fulton County School official Toller said in a statement to

Channel 2 Action News.

Burden faces battery charges.

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