DeSoto school aide charged with hitting student with autism
DESOTO, Texas - A special education aide at DeSoto High School has been arrested after police said video shows her hitting a student with autism.
Gloria Diane Lowe turned herself into police Friday morning. She has been charged with injury to a disabled individual. Her bond was set at $15,000 bond, but she has bonded out.
Police said they began investigating on Monday after getting the report and video.
Investigators said Lowe hit an autistic, non-verbal student with an extension cord.
The arrest affidavit said another student filmed the incident and it was her mother who alerted the police.
On October 20, police said a student was physically hurt by a teacher aide during a class for special education at DeSoto High School.
According to the arrest affidavit, Lowe hit a student with a black extension cord, causing him to "flinch and wince in pain."
The class is for students with disabilities who are 18 and older.
The affidavit said the victim is nonverbal and a fellow classmate recorded the incident on her cellphone.
That classmate showed the video to her mom, who reported it to the police, according to the affidavit.
Desoto ISD told FOX 4 on Tuesday that Lowe was placed on administrative leave while the district started an internal investigation.
On Wednesday, DeSoto police issued a warrant for Lowe’s arrest. She then turned herself into police Friday morning.
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DeSoto ISD released a statement that said, in part: "DeSoto ISD reiterates that it does not tolerate misconduct, particularly such actions that adversely impact student safety and welfare. The district takes all matters related to the individual and collective safety and security of its school community seriously and notes that this inexcusable act does not reflect the care and compassion of the DeSoto ISD educator workforce."
FOX 4 looked into Lowe’s past, and records show she's had two criminal DWI cases and a couple of minor offenses, but no previous criminal cases involving violence.
Lowe worked at a different school district outside of North Texas before she was a teacher’s aide at DeSoto ISD.
The district has not yet responded when asked how long Lowe has worked for DeSoto ISD.