Teacher’s aide in California’s Monterey County accused of abusing special needs student

By Tim Fang

A teacher aide on California’s Central Coast was arrested for allegedly abusing a nonverbal special needs student by striking the teen with a stick, police said.

Chief Nick Borges of the Seaside Police Department told CBS News Bay Area that his department received a tip from Child Protective Services on Tuesday about a teacher’s aide at Seaside High School abusing students.

An investigation determined that an aide had used a wooden stick to strike the student, a 14-year-old who has autism and is nonverbal. Police said they had video evidence of the incident.

On Wednesday, officers arrested the aide, identified as Emmanuel Rivera. The 34-year-old was booked into the Monterey County Jail and was later released on bail.

According to Borges, Rivera is also accused of other incidents of abuse dating back to last year and said there could be additional victims.

Rivera allegedly brought chili pepper to sprinkle on the food of students as a disciplinary action, Borbes said. The aide is also accused of using a spray bottle to spray the student and brought melatonin for when the student was active.

In a statement to CBS News Bay Area, the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District said that the district is working with law enforcement on the investigation.

“While the matter is under review, staff members assigned to the classroom have been removed from the classroom pending the outcome of the investigation,” the district said. “Because this involves a personnel matter, there are limits to the information we are able to share in order to ensure a fair and thorough process.”

Anyone with additional information about Rivera is asked to contact the Seaside Police Department at 831-899-6748.