Pennsylvania crossing guard gave middle school students marijuana edibles and vapes, smoked weed with juvenile: DA



A Pennsylvania school crossing guard has been accused of providing marijuana edibles and vapes to middle school students and allegedly smoking weed with a juvenile.

Kiara Lee, 26, was arrested on Tuesday. Lee was charged with two felony counts of drug possession with intent to deliver, two misdemeanor counts of corruption of a minor, and two misdemeanor counts of possession of marijuana, according to court records reviewed by the New York Post. She is being held in the Delaware County jail after not being able to post the $20,000 bail.

Lee is a crossing guard for Penn Wood Middle School in Darby, Pennsylvania. However, she was placed on administrative suspension and banned from the campus after the disturbing accusations surfaced.

On May 16, Penn Wood Middle School Principal Myishing Cox confronted a student and their guardian regarding drugs being used and distributed near school property, according to WCAU.

The student said Lee provided them with vapes and frequently smoked marijuana with the crossing guard, according to officials. The student also claimed that Lee provided vapes to another student on three separate occasions.

A student witness informed school officials that they had seen Lee providing drugs and vapes to at least two students on multiple occasions. A second student witness allegedly confirmed the allegations against Lee.

School officials reported the alleged crimes to the Darby Borough Police Department.

Police officers interviewed the guardian of the student, who allegedly confirmed to investigators that Lee had been giving their child vapes and marijuana edibles.

Law enforcement allegedly discovered text messages between the minor and Lee that confirmed that they had ingested marijuana edibles and discussed their experiences with the drugs.

Darby Borough Chief Joseph Gabe said, "While marijuana may not seem like a big deal to some folks in the community, I think we can all agree that crossing guards should not be providing narcotics – even if it is 'just' marijuana — to our kids."

Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer added, "School crossing guards epitomize the role of public servant. They are — quite literally — entrusted with the lives of our children and hold a position of sacred trust in communities across the Commonwealth and the country."

The Borough of Darby said in a statement released on Wednesday, "The Council of the Borough of Darby is deeply disturbed by the allegations contained in the Affidavit of Probable Cause related to Ms. Kiara Lee. We have placed Ms. Lee on administrative suspension and banned her from our facilities pending the outcome of an internal investigation. We are grateful for the men and women of the Darby Borough Police Department for their hard work in making sure our community is safe."

The William Penn School District released a statement that read:

The William Penn School District is disheartened that someone employed by the Darby Borough serving our district and community would behave in this reprehensible manner. We thank Police Chief Joseph Gabe and the Darby Police Department as well as District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer and his office for pursuing this case and announcing charges against the suspect. The William Penn School District aims to support our students, and we will work with whoever has been affected and their families to provide assistance at this time. As the suspect is not one of our employees, we will be issuing no further comments.

Lee is set to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on June 14.

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3 females dragged Philly crossing guard off bus when she tried to escape brutal beating, detective says; suspects arrested



Last week Blaze News reported that three females brutally attacked a Philadelphia crossing guard, resulting in the 29-year-old victim's hospitalization.

The good news is that three suspects have been arrested. The bad news is that the beatdown was way more sinister and vicious than initially reported.

What are the details?

"I couldn't believe they would do this to someone who is out there trying to protect children every day of the week," Capt. Frank Banford, commanding officer of the Central Detective Division, told WTXF-TV.

Capt. Frank BanfordImage source: YouTube screenshot

Police last week released information about the Nov. 30 attack, including still images of the suspects. Police said the victim was working as a crossing guard at 2800 Cecil B. Moore Avenue around 3:40 p.m. when she was involved in an argument with three females.

Cops noted that the three females knocked the victim to the ground and punched and stomped her several times. The victim suffered bruising to her head and face as well as swelling to her nose, left hand, and right leg, police said, adding that the victim was taken to Temple Hospital for treatment of her injuries.

But that ain't the half of it.

'Viciousness'

WTXF, citing police sources, reported that the suspects actually attacked the guard because she gave her cell phone to a young girl to call for help after she was attacked by the same suspects.

"The viciousness of it," Banford told the station in reference to the beatdown of the crossing guard. "I mean, they were trying to inflict some injury. There were boots to the face, kicks all over the body, punches. It went on for a couple minutes. It was horrible."

Banford then disclosed to WTXF what may be the worst part: "[The crossing guard] tries to get on the bus ... to get away. They drag her off of the bus, drag her to the ground, start beating her, punching her, kicking her, while she's on the ground ... horrendous."

Arrested

Police arrested two adult females identified as 26-year-old Imani Thomas and 18-year-old Destiny Sanders in connection with the attack, the station said, adding that the third suspect — a 15-year-old girl — turned herself in to authorities.

— (@)

Banford noted to WTXF that police were able to arrest the suspects because of immediate help from citizens who called cops and identified the females within a couple of hours after police released still images of the suspects.

However, the station added that the crossing guard hasn't been back to that intersection since the attack.

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Three females repeatedly punch, stomp female crossing guard in Philly after argument; beaten victim hospitalized, cops say



Philadelphia police said three females repeatedly punched and stomped on a female crossing guard after an argument, after which the 29-year-old victim was hospitalized.

What are the details?

While the attack took place Nov. 30, police on Tuesday released information about the attack, including still images of the suspects.

Police said the victim was working as a crossing guard at 2800 Cecil B. Moore Avenue around 3:40 p.m. when she was involved in an argument with three unknown females.

Cops noted that the three females knocked the victim to the ground and punched and stomped her several times.

The victim suffered bruising to her head and face as well as swelling to her nose, left hand, and right leg, police said, adding that the victim was taken to Temple Hospital for treatment of her injuries.

Police said if you see these suspects, call 911 immediately and do not approach them. Call or text 215-686-TIPS (8477) to submit confidential tips. If you have any information about this crime or these suspects, police said to call Central Detective Division at 215-686-3093/3094 and ask for Detective Allen.

Aggravated Assault 2800 CB Moore Ave DC 23 22 069757 youtu.be

How are folks reacting?

Commenters on a WTXF-TV story published on Yahoo News were far from happy about the situation. Here's a sampling from among more than 1,200 (and counting) observations:

  • "Even if identified, found & 20 witnesses came forward, the city STILL wouldn't prosecute them. Probably reduce it to jaywalking," one commenter wrote. "Crime rules, the good citizens are thrown under the bus."
  • "The way to decrease crime is to increase punishment," another commenter opined. "It'll deter some and keep the ones who do commit crimes off the street longer. It's a win-win."
  • "Seems like a responsible and reasonable way for moral, thinking, introspective, intelligent human beings to behave," another commenter quipped.
  • "If you lived in that neighborhood would you come forward and identify any one of them?" another commenter wondered. "The police don't even want to go there."

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Crossing guard cop hailed as hero after pushing middle schooler clear of car careening through crosswalk — and then getting hit herself: 'It didn't seem real'



A Maryland police officer who was serving as a crossing guard Friday morning is being hailed as a hero after she pushed a middle school girl clear of a car that was careening through a crosswalk — and then getting hit herself.

What are the details?

In the surveillance video clip of the incident, Cpl. Annette Goodyear of the North East Police Department was seen raising her hand to stop traffic as a North East Middle School student approached the crosswalk, WJZ-TV reported.

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @DrJalawson

But despite Goodyear and the student being right in the middle of the road in the crosswalk, an oncoming car didn't stop.

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @DrJalawson

With that, Goodyear pushed the young girl clear of the car — and then is seen to be hit herself, WTTG-TV reported.

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @DrJalawson

Just afterward, Goodyear was lying on the street as a number of people, including the driver, rushed over to her.

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @DrJalawson

The girl landed on her hands and knees after Goodyear's push but got up right away.

Here's the clip:

This is what hero police officers do! North East Police Officer Annette Goodyear saved a student from harm\u2019s way early this morning.pic.twitter.com/efpgjqucuO
— Dr. Jeffrey Lawson (@Dr. Jeffrey Lawson) 1644007358

'It didn't seem real'

Goodyear was taken to a hospital with minor injuries and was later discharged, WJZ said.

"It was strange," she later shared with WTTG. "As I’m lying there I’m thinking to myself this actually did happen. I didn’t even know what to think about at that point. It didn’t seem real as it was happening."

Goodyear — who's been a crossing guard for 14 years — added to the station that "I’m a parent as well, and it’s like I just want to make sure all these children are safe, and it didn’t matter if I was struck or not."

After leaving the hospital, Goodyear went back to the school to check on the student she rescued from harm's way but was told she was shaken up and went back home to be with her family, WTTG said

So the corporal thought she would stop by the student's house to check on her, the station said.

"She came down the stairs, saw me standing there, and as she was walking toward the door she was getting teary-eyed, and you could see it, and when she got teary-eyed, then her dad started getting teary-eyed, and we all started at that point," Goodyear recounted to the WTTG. "I was just so thankful she was standing there, and that she was OK."

'We’re just extremely proud of her actions'

Cpl. John Fakner of the North East Police Department told WJZ that "we’re just extremely proud of her actions. It was a split-second reaction that saved a child from potential injury. A job well done.”

Cecil County Executive Danielle Hornberger told the station she's spoken with North East Mayor Michael Kline, and the town is “already working on commendations for her bravery and swift action!”

"It was an amazing act of heroism," Hornberger added to WTTG. "Truly that is what we envision [when we think of] ... protect and serve. That’s what we want in our community, and it’s just humbling; it's breathtaking; it’s amazing, and we’re just so proud to have Corporal Goodyear in our community."

What happened to the driver?

The driver was cited for negligent driving, failure to stop at yield sign before entering crosswalk, failure to stop for pedestrian in crosswalk, and driving with an expired registration plate, Lt. Michael Holmes, a spokesperson for the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office, told WJZ.