A preschool teacher in Connecticut is facing serious charges after allegedly dragging a young child across a classroom and leaving him alone in a hallway, an incident that has raised concern among parents and educators.
According to police, 61-year-old Stacy Vaughn-Marcella has been charged with one felony count of risk of injury to a child. The case stems from a December incident involving a 3- or 4-year-old student at a magnet school in Hartford.
Investigators say the situation began when the child became upset during class and started throwing objects. Witnesses reported that after the child climbed onto furniture and had to be helped down, the teacher allegedly grabbed his legs while he was on the floor and dragged him several feet out of the classroom.
The child was then left alone in the hallway for several minutes. During that time, he reportedly appeared distressed and was later found crying by another staff member, who intervened and took him to a behavior specialist.
Surveillance footage partially captured the incident, with officers noting the child’s visible distress. The boy was later taken for medical evaluation after appearing dizzy, though no physical injuries were found.
The teacher denied intentionally dragging the child, claiming she was trying to protect others as he was kicking aggressively. She said she believed she could still monitor him through a door window.
The school placed her on administrative leave immediately. She has since been released on bond and is scheduled to appear in court later this month.
