In the video, former Wolters Elementary School Principal Brian Vollhardt is seen shoving a student in the chest, causing him to fall to the floor during breakfast on June 7 in Fresno, California, KTVU-TV reported. According to the Fresno Unified School District, Vollhardt and other staff members were interacting with an upset student with special needs and the principal chose to “aggressively push the student” instead of “de-escalating the situation.” The school district began proceedings to discipline Vollhardt, at which point Vollhardt resigned and no longer works at the school. School District Superintendent Bob Nelson called Vollhardt’s actions “abhorrent” and “absolutely unacceptable at any level in Fresno Unified.” Fresno’s police chief was only informed of the attack three months after the attack. Fresno Unified School District via Storyful The district says the incident has been reported to both police and Child Protective Services. Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama says the incident was reported to police on June 9, but was made aware of the incident on September 6, nearly three months after it happened. It is not known at this time if the student suffered any injuries. Fresno Unified School District via Storyful “I can tell you as the chief of police in this community, I have a real problem with the way this kid was treated. As a parent of a 9-year-old child, who is very similar in age to the victim in this case and who also suffers from anxiety and does not always handle situations in the best way, it is troubling how someone who is supposed to protect this child and his provides support, dealt with it,” Balderrama said. Vollhardt is scheduled to be arraigned on a misdemeanor charge of willful cruelty to a minor on Sept. 26.
