Footage of San Antonio school cop Joshua Kehm picking up 12-year-old Janissa Valdez before slamming her to the ground March 29, 2016. The San Antonio school district confirmed April 11, 2016, that it has fired Kehm as a result. ABC News
The San Antonio school police officer who was seen on video physically picking up a 12-year-old girl before tossing her to the ground has been fired, school officials confirmed Monday, ABC News reports.
School officer Joshua Kehm was initially put on paid administrative leave after video of the incident went viral, prompting an investigation last week. The video stemmed from a March 29 altercation at Rhodes Middle School.
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"We understand that situations can sometimes escalate to the point of requiring a physical response; however, in this situation we believe that the extent of the response was absolutely unwarranted," Superintendent Pedro Martinez said in a statement, according to ABC. "Additionally, the officer’s report was inconsistent with the video and it was also delayed, which is not in accordance with the general operating procedures of the police department. We want to be clear that we will not tolerate this behavior."
An administrative investigation into the incident is ongoing, ABC reports.
