Spence’s attorney Mike Davey told the Baltimore Sun last week that his client thought the victim and his friend, who recorded the video, were trespassing on school grounds despite the fact that they both said they were students.
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Thornton insisted that this was an isolated incident, but said it has prompted a comprehensive review of the entire police force. The police report leaves no doubt that incident, which also happened in 2011, was known to others in the school system.
Anthony Spence, 44, the officer seen hitting the student at REACH Partnership Middle/High School, faces three charges: second-degree child abuse, which is a felony, along with second-degree assault and misconduct in office.
Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Dr. Gregory Thornton said at news conference Wednesday that he was “appalled and disappointed” by the video and that “every emotion from outrage to disappointment went through” him while watching it. Officer Spence can be heard yelling “go the f– home!” and “get the f– out of here!” Spence was not attempting to make an arrest and was “not acting in reasonable self-defense”, according to charging documents. The officer asked the two to leave, and the attack began after one of the boys refused.
Baltimore Police Department spokesman T.J. Smith said in a statement that the charges were filed after an investigation by Special Investigation Response Team.
Police say the officers turned themselves in Tuesday night and were processed at Central Booking, but have since posted bail to gain their release.
Ferguson said that he welcomes news of the arrest of Officers Anthony Spence and Saverna Bias, in connection with the beating of a student caught on video at the REACH Partnership School.
Spence was accused of hitting a girlfriend, who was also a school police officer.
“Communication with parents are key – that’s why we have and will continue to talk with the community about these issues”, Thornton said.
Baltimore City Schools police are conducting an internal investigation and the State’s Attorney’s Office will handle the case, Smith said. The officer later dropped her request for a protective order against him. The man did not press charges and that case was shelved. Spence is also charged with second-degree child abuse.
Spence also serves as the vice president of Sentinel Protection Agency, a private security firm, along with Clyde Boatwright, who is the company’s chief executive officer. Bias and Spence did not yet enter a plea to the charges against them, according to Terri Charles, the deputy director for the Maryland Judiciary Office of Communications and Public Affairs.
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Spence was previously fired from the Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office for his role in tazering an innocent man at Lexington Market in 2002.
