Inset: Janelle Brooks (Warner Elementary School Facebook). Background: Warner Elementary School in East Nashville (Google Maps).
A Tennessee elementary school principal is facing a serious domestic assault charge after police say she abused her 13-year-old son, including allegedly forcing him from her home wearing only underwear, striking him with a paddle and choking him until he was left “wheezing” for air.
Janelle Brooks, 38, who serves as principal of Warner Arts Magnet Elementary School in Nashville, was arrested last week on one count of aggravated domestic assault, according to court records.
The case began when Brooks’ ex-husband, the boy’s father, contacted the Portland Police Department because he was concerned about his children’s safety while they were staying with their mother, according to a report from the Nashville Banner. He reportedly told authorities his initial concern was that Brooks’ new boyfriend may have been disciplining the children without his consent.
The 13-year-old later told police that Brooks ordered him to leave her home but said he could not take anything she had bought for him, including his clothes, The Tennessean reported. As a result, the boy said he was left wearing only his underwear.
Investigators say Brooks then retrieved a paddle from another room and hit her son repeatedly on the legs before placing her hands around his neck and squeezing until he struggled to breathe and was “wheezing,” Nashville Fox affiliate WZTV reported.
When asked why he had not reported the alleged assault sooner, the boy reportedly told authorities he was not allowed to use a phone or any electronic device while at his mother’s house.
During an interview with detectives, Brooks allegedly acknowledged using a paddle to discipline her son, according to the arrest affidavit.
“Mrs. Brooks stated that her son, the 13-year-old, had disrespected her,” police reportedly wrote in the affidavit. “Mrs. Brooks stated further that she had grabbed a paddle to discipline her son, to which she said he had responded ‘you’re not going to paddle me.’ Mrs. Brooks stated that she told her 13 year old son that he could get out then. However she was not allowing him to leave with any items she had personally purchased for him, so her 13-year-old son was now only in his underwear.”
The principal also reportedly acknowledged going for her son’s throat because he had “swelled up at her,” but claimed the boy grabbed her arms and tried to block her.
One day after Brooks’ Aug. 20 arrest, Metro Nashville Public Schools placed her on administrative leave pending an external investigation. In an email to parents obtained by the Banner, the district said the incident had nothing to do with Brooks’ work at the school.
“The matter involving Dr. Brooks had nothing to do with her work as principal or to the operations of Warner Elementary,” the district said. “Because this is an ongoing personnel matter, we are unable to provide additional information at this time.”
Brooks was released from the Sumner County Jail on Aug. 21 after posting a $15,000 bond, court records show. She was also served with an order of protection and is scheduled to make her first appearance in court Sept. 4.
The post Elementary school principal paddled son who ‘disrespected her’ before strangling boy until he was ‘wheezing’ for air: Police first appeared on Law & Crime.
