The following report was provided by the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office:
Camden County Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo reported two Bancroft employees have been arrested for assaulting two teenagers with special needs at the school in Haddonfield.
Two 28-year-old females, one of Burlington City and the other of Clementon, are both charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count each of endangering the welfare of a child, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. The woman from Clementon is also charged with two counts of kidnapping as well as an additional count of endangering the welfare of a child.
The incidents occurred in the early morning hours of Dec. 8 at the Bancroft Haddonfield Campus. A Bancroft nurse discovered the injuries to one of the victims and immediately notified authorities.
Surveillance video discovered by investigators shows a 14-year-old boy with special needs being hit with a belt by the women. The footage shows the woman of Clementon forcing and restraining the boy under a desk for an extended period of time. The video later shows the woman of Clementon forcing and restraining a different student, a 19-year-old male with special needs, under a desk for an extended period of time.
Both were taken into custody yesterday. Both are being held at the Camden County Jail. Bail was set at $325,000 for the woman of Burlington City and $350,000 of the woman of Clementon.
The Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit is continuing an investigation to determine whether additional crimes have occurred or other children were victimized. Bancroft has been fully cooperative during this ongoing investigation.
Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Laura Sarnese at (856) 225–8522. Information may also be emailed to ccpotips@ccprosecutor.org.
All persons charged with criminal offenses are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.
