BANNER ELK, N.C. (AP) -- The death of a nine-year-old boy who
suffocated after being restrained by his teacher has sparked an
investigation into a home for abused children that has been the
target of a number of complaints.
The death of Timithy Thomas, who weighed only 53 pounds,
happened shortly after he was subjected to a "basket hold" by
his teacher.
Basket holds are used on unruly children and involve a
teacher getting behind the child, crossing his arms and holding
on to the child's wrists. But on Thursday afternoon at
Grandfather Academy, something went wrong.
County and state officials are now investigating the
disciplinary procedure, which is used by various juvenile
workers and is considered by some to be controversial.
"I feel like it was definitely unnecessary," Avery County
Sheriff Richard Buchanan said Monday. "We feel like that this
probably was the cause of death."
Buchanan said the death is the latest in a series of problems
at the home in the western North Carolina mountains. The academy
is the school for youngsters living at the Grandfather Home for
Children.
Several children have run away from the home, claiming staff
members verbally and physically abused them, Buchanan said. His
office is investigating two other employees in connection with
an unrelated assault case, he said.
Principal Roy Krege said he and the school board stand behind
the school staff and have no immediate plans to change any
procedures. He said children at the academy have extensive
emotional and behavioral problems and must be restrained at
times.
The teacher, whose name was not released, is an experienced
employee with an exemplary personnel file, he said.
"If something did go awry, it was certainly and totally
unintentional," he said.March 15, 1999
