A former police officer for the Connellsville Area School District is facing criminal charges for allegedly assaulting a student in October and illegally recording a meeting about the incident.
Police alleged James E. Shaw, 54, of Connellsville and another school police officer saw a 17-year-old student vaping as he waited for a ride near the Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center on Oct. 16.
Connellsville Police Det. Lt. Tom Patton, who filed the charges, contended Shaw took the boy by the wrist to take him to the principalâs office.
âThe victim attempted to pull away before Shaw slammed him onto the paved roadway,â Patton wrote in court documents. âThe victim was then handcuffed by Shaw and taken to the office.â