SEDOL paraprofessional charged in battery of student

GAGES LAKE – A special education paraprofessional has been charged with battery in connection with a February incident involving a 7-year-old student, authorities said.

On Feb. 27, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office was notified of an incident in which a paraprofessional from the Special Education District of Lake County used excessive force while interacting with a 7-year-old student, according to a news release. The notification came from SEDOL administration.

The investigation showed that Justin Cole, 35, of the 2400 block of 82nd St., Kenosha, Wisconsin, was in an intervention office with the 7-year-old boy. The boy pushed Cole, and Cole responded by picking up a pillow and struck the boy in the head, using the pillow as a barrier between the boy’s head and Cole’s hand, police said. This caused the boy to fall to the ground and begin crying.

SEDOL administration took immediate action and terminated Cole’s employment.

An arrest warrant on one count of battery, a Class A misdemeanor, was approved March 27.

On March 30, Cole surrendered himself to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. He appeared in court and was released on a $25,000 recognizance bond pending a return court date of May 14.