WASHINGTON — A man has been arrested for attacking two teachers who were out on a walk with small children from Petit Scholars Bloomingdale in D.C. A police report offers details of the disturbing encounter.
According to a police report, it happened Monday afternoon near 2nd and S streets Northwest. The two teachers from Petit Scholars Bloomingdale were walking with 20-30 small children, all between the ages of 1 and 3 years old, when a man approached the group.
The man demanded money from the women. The women refused and told the man to leave them alone. He did not. When the teachers told the man they were calling 911, the man punched both women in the head multiple times.
The police report also says the man exposed himself to the kids before passersby jumped in to help, and the man was eventually arrested.
Isabelle Guzman, who lives a few blocks away, told WUSA9 that she recognized the man from the neighborhood.
"He’s usually standing outside one of the liquor convenience stores," she explained, "there’s two distinct areas where he’s been, and he’s asked me for money before."
She said she was going for a walk on S Street NW on Monday afternoon when she saw the man in handcuffs and surrounded by police officers.
"He was sitting down, and he had his pants pulled down," she said.
Police took the man to a nearby hospital for treatment, where the man spit on a police officer and slapped him, according to the report.
The man was taken into custody on several charges including simple assault, misdemeanor sexual abuse of a child or minor, assault on a police officer and aggressive panhandling.
In a post on social media, Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Taylor called the attack disturbing. He said one of the teachers was hospitalized with serious injuries that are not thought to be life-threatening.
"The devastation of a child witnessing their teacher be attacked is unthinkable. We must keep working to make our communities healthy, whole, and safe," Parker said.
He also spoke to WUSA9 and says he's been in communication with the U.S. Attorney's Office to prevent instances like this from happening.
"It is going to take more than holding this individual accountable, he will be held accountable, but we have to close the loopholes for these individuals," he explained, "who have rap sheets and it just all being explained in a way that’s due to mental health."
Parker said he is working with DC Police to provide escorts to Petit Scholars groups, who take daily walks and trips to the playground.
Meanwhile, families of the children have started a Go Fund Me page they're calling a "Hero Fund" for the teachers that who were assaulted.