Officers with the Melbourne Police Department responded to a call about a possible battery at Sabal Elementary School on Friday, January 29.
According to an arrest affidavit, a father picked up his son from school due to his child getting into an altercation with a school employee. The child had several marks across his face and neck that were red in color and swollen, officers observed.
The affidavit states that the boy was sitting in the school cafeteria during lunch, and when he attempted to leave, a janitor, 59-year-old John McLeod, approached the boy and told him to sit down. The boy apparently felt threatened by the janitor and continued to try to leave but McLeod continuously blocked him, moving his body in front of him, the report indicates.
The affidavit states McLeod then “belly-bumped” the child multiple times. The child pushed McLeod, attempting to get away from him, but the janitor just responded by getting in his face and telling him to hit him, according to the report.
