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Cook County teacher charged with hitting children during class
A Des Plaines elementary school teacher has been accused by four children ages 7 and 8 of hitting them and pulling their ears in class. She faces four misdemeanor charges of battery.
DES PLAINES, Ill. - A Cook County teacher at North Elementary School has been accused of hitting children and "pulling their ears" during class.
Lai Ying T. Escobedo, 44, of Palatine has been charged with four counts of misdemeanor battery, according to Des Plaines police.
Police say the charges stem from allegations of incidents that happened between Dec. 21, 2022 and Jan. 11, 2023.
Des Plaines Police Department launched an investigation with the help of the Department of Child and Family Services and Community Consolidated School District.
Lai Ying T. Escobedo (Des Plaines Police)
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Investigators say a 7-year-old boy, two 7-year-old girls, and an 8-year-old girl claimed that Escobedo "pulled their ears," hit them in the heads with a folder or closed fist and pushed their heads toward the tables they sit at.
The incidents happened in the classroom during school hours.
None of the children were seriously injured, police say.
Community Consolidated School District 62 sent a letter to parents in February addressing the situation at North Elementary.
The letter said Escobedo was immediately removed from the school and placed on administrative leave during the investigation.
The district says they are cooperating with police and DCFS.