Clairton police have charged a parent with beating an 11-year-old girl last week outside an elementary school during morning drop-off in an assault captured on surveillance video.
Jasmine Snow, 40, of Clairton struck and dragged the girl and threw her to the ground in front of at least one witness on April 1 shortly before 8 a.m., a criminal complaint said.
Clairton Elementary School Principal Debra Maurizio called police Tuesday morning to report the incident.
Video surveillance showed Snow approaching the student outside the school’s entrance, the complaint said.
The witness told police he saw the girl walking toward the school’s entrance when she stopped by a white SUV. He saw Snow and the student have a conversation but could not hear what was said, according to the complaint.
Snow bent down and got “into the face” of the girl, according to the complaint.
Police said Snow struck the girl in the face, causing her to stumble backwards.
Video footage showed Snow grabbed the hood of the girl’s sweatshirt and repeatedly hit her before anyone could intervene, the complaint said.
The student fell, and Snow began dragging her backwards while continuing to strike her, according to police.
The witness told police he tried to stop Snow, but she cocked her fist back, and he backed away.
Snow continued hitting the girl until school security arrived, according to the complaint.
When the girl tried to get up, Snow threw her down, the complaint said. Security restrained her, and she drove away, according to police.
The witness, who was not named by police, and elementary school staff identified the attacker as Snow.
Clairton police said the girl’s injuries included a cut lip, bruising and swelling around her eye and a scrape on her cheek.
Police charged Snow with simple assault, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct, all misdemeanors, as well as a summary count of harassment.
Snow’s lawyer, Ken Haber, declined Friday to comment on the charges facing his client.
Snow was released on the day of the incident on nonmonetary bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 24.
Clairton City School District said on Friday, it could not comment on the ongoing police investigation.
