Search Warrant: Johnston County Schools Withheld Information, Refused To Cooperate With Police Investigation
Police were investigating school teacher later charged with assaulting student
SMITHFIELD – Johnston County Public School officials failed to timely report allegations an elementary school teacher assaulted a 4 year-old student multiple times. When the assault was finally reported two months later, human resources staff refused to cooperate with a police detective assigned to the case. Those are the allegations outlined in a criminal search warrant issued against the Johnston County Public Schools Human Resources Department by the Smithfield Police Department.
The teacher at the center of the investigation was allowed to resign from her position. She is now facing criminal charges but many questions still remain.
According to the search warrant, on February 11, 2022, Smithfield Police Sgt. W.T. Lee was contacted by JCPS Human Resources Executive Director Carla Withrow. Withrow wanted to file a report about an assault that happened between a South Smithfield Elementary teacher and a four year-old pre-kindergarten student.
The alleged assault occurred 56 days earlier, December 17, 2021, and although it was reported to school officials that same day, they failed to immediately report the assault to law enforcement.
School officials declined to release name of eyewitness
In February 2022, when it was reported to police, school officials reportedly declined to give officers the name of the school employee who witnessed the alleged assault and initially reported it to administrators in December.
According to the search warrant obtained by Detective D. Sholes, “An interview had not been completed by law enforcement with the reporting party and eyewitness due to the school system refusing to notify law enforcement as to the identity of this person. It was reported that teacher, Tammy Braswell, struck the four year-old in the face.”
“Carla Withrow informed Sgt. Lee that an internal investigation found that on several other occasions beginning in September 2021, the same student was assaulted by Braswell, however the details of those events were not provided. Withrow provided Sgt. Lee with the name and age of the suspect (Braswell), name and DOB of the victim, and names of assistant teachers that work in the same classroom. The contact information provided was through the school system and not personal numbers where potential witnesses could be contacted,” Detective Sholes wrote in the search warrant.
“General rule” not to report assaults to law enforcement
“It was reported to Sgt. Lee that the incident was not reported to law enforcement due to there being a general rule that if the student had no marks, injuries, or if the child does not make a comment that the alleged assault hurt, they typically would not report to law enforcement. Sgt. Lee documented that Withrow advised that due to the father of the child being upset and there being a directive to report this incident to law enforcement by senior leadership within the school system.”
“Withrow confirmed to Sgt. Lee that she possesses all notes, emails, text messages, interoffice communications, and other information available that would only be released through a court order,” Detective Sholes wrote in the search warrant application.
Miss Tammy hit me
Detective Sholes indicated he spoke with the father of the victim. The father stated his son stated to him “Miss Tammy hit me” then proceeded to show how he was struck by hitting himself in the face. The father reported “…his son’s attitude toward school has changed and that he cries at the thought of going to school and is afraid of going due to his teacher being ‘mean’ to him.'” The father told police this was a complete change from the beginning of the school year when his son was happy and excited to attend school.
According to the search warrant, “(The father) stated to me and provided a document detailing multiple conversations with school employees, primarily the Principal of South Smithfield Elementary, Susan Jones, and then Carla Withrow. (The father) documented that he was told the investigation was ongoing and that he would be provided some information when available. (The father) documented that on February 2, 2022 he was contacted by Carla Withrow, who advised him that she could not provide any details into the assault on his son due to “school policy”, however she did tell (the father) that the investigation revealed there were no reasons to believe that the accusations was not true.”
“(The father) stated that on February 11, 2022, same day as report being filed to law enforcement, he was contacted by Carla Withrow regarding the incident. During this occasion, she advised (the father) that his son was struck on multiple different occasions by the same teacher and that although not required, the school would be notifying law enforcement. This was the first time (the father) was notified that there were multiple incidents. (The father) asked Carla is she knew of the additional incidents of his son being struck prior to February 8th, the last time they had an in-person meeting, and Carla Withrow replied that she could not share that information,” Detective Sholes stated in the search warrant application.
Lack of transparency
“By statements from the victim, victim’s father, and Carla Withrow, it is clear that the victim was assaulted on multiple times by Tammy Braswell. However, due to a lack of transparency by the school system, I have not been able to thoroughly investigate this reported assault. I have not been able to speak with direct witnesses due to Johnston County Schools withholding this information,” Sholes stated.
“The information requested from Johnston County Public Schools is vital to my investigation. The information being withheld will provide detailed information regarding the assault and witnesses that will allow me to collect all relevant facts and make a determination if criminal elements have been met to charge the suspect appropriately, if needed,” Sholes stated.
Search warrant served on Human Resources Department
Superior Court Judge C. Hill approved and signed the search warrant March 11, 2022. Police served the search warrant less than 30 minutes later on the Johnston County Public Schools Human Resources Department. The documents Detectives Sholes needed for his investigation were seized from the JCPS Human Resources department.
On April 8, 2022, Tammy Annette Braswell, age 51, of Goldsboro was served in Wayne County with a Smithfield Police arrest warrant and charged with misdemeanor assault on a child under age 12. She was released from the Wayne County Detention Center on a $1,000 unsecured bond pending a May 17, 2022 court appearance in Johnston County.
In a Public Records Request, Johnston County Public Schools confirmed Tammy Annette Braswell was hired as a teacher on August 11, 2021 and suspended January 3, 2022. The suspension took place 17 days after the assault was first reported internally to school officials by the eyewitness.
Braswell remained suspended until she resigned from her position on February 12, 2022. That’s one day after the incident was first reported to law enforcement.
School system “responds swiftly” to staff misconduct
We reached out to Superintendent Dr. Eric Bracy for a comment. A prepared statement was released Thursday stating the school system “responds swiftly” when incidents like this occur, even though it took 56 days to report the assault to law enforcement.
“Johnston County Public Schools takes allegations of staff misconduct seriously. Although we cannot discuss the specifics of an investigation into alleged staff misconduct, we can confirm that whenever such allegations arise, our administration responds swiftly, by investigating the allegations and, sometimes, by removing staff from classrooms pending completion of a thorough review. Student safety remains our priority, and to this end, we make required and discretionary reports of staff misconduct to law enforcement and the Department of Public Instruction. We are grateful for our ongoing partnership with local law enforcement, and believe dialogue with law enforcement leadership to be the most direct and transparent method of promoting our ongoing collaboration,” the statement read.
School board chairman Todd Sutton did not respond to our email request for a comment about the assault or the alleged “general rule” that if a student has no marks or injuries or doesn’t comment that they are hurt, the incident is not reported to law enforcement.
School board member Ronald Johnson did respond to our request for a comment. In a prepared statement, Mr. Johnson said, “JCPS should have notified law enforcement immediately. The Human Resources Department does not have the authority or scope to investigate criminal offenses. On February 8th, 2022, I was first notified about the allegations. The only information provided to the Board of Education was the allegation of a teacher striking a student. The school system did not provide names of the individuals involved. I demanded that HR or the attorneys contact law enforcement that day. I followed up the following day, and every subsequent day, until this incident was reported. After going back and forth with them for several days, the incident was finally reported to law enforcement. I am not clear as to why this incident wasn’t immediately reported. If I had the information, I would have reported it myself.”
Superintendent Bracy nor his staff would say if any policy changes are needed regarding how student assaults are handled and reported to both parents and law enforcement.
(School board member Ronald Johnson is a member of the Smithfield Police Department. Police Chief Keith Powell confirmed Mr. Johnson was not involved in the criminal investigation, which was handled entirely by Detective D. Sholes.)
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68 Comments
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So JCPS allows teachers to hit students so long as the student doesn’t say it hurts or has marks… wow that is one jacked up policy that needs to change! Teachers should never be allowed to hit a student. Why did JCPS Human Resources keep this secret and not cooperate with the investigation?? This behavior by HR is abhorrent and needs to be addressed. I hope the school board or Dr Bracy takes action against HR.
What if it’s an EC student who is nonverbal? Who is sticking up for them if they can’t report it themselves?
This entire school board needs to be replaced. Also some other positions outside the school board needs to be fired. This school system is out of control and needs to be smacked down to reality. I would sue the crap out of the JCPS if that was my child.
Seems like the whole system needs an overhaul from the top all the way to the bottom. It sounds like a few of the higher up admin that didn’t report it need to be charged as well. No one should have to worry about being assaulted by one while at school much less someone that young by a teacher. And seems like dad has a good case against the school system.
My thoughts exactly!!!
Agree!
The entire Johnston County Public School System needs to be investigated. I have seen a lot of unsettling things occurring amongst the school staff at South Johnston High School for years.
Oh really! Care to disclose?
Sure you have. But please include the consistent barrage of anger, disrespect and belligerence they have to deal with from students and parents. Some parents and students need to be slapped.
High School is a different animal than Elementary school. Let’s compare apples to apples here…
You are correct. Does anyone care to ask her why this particular child? I’m not condoning what she did, but there’s always a reason why.
As a former employee of JCS, this isn’t surprising. Whenever something bad happens, cabinet, HR, and public information team up and make sure it stays buried. For example, what ever happened to the sexual harassment allegations a few years ago? Quietly buried.
My advice for the public…call for the firing and arrest of every single person that knew about this and tried to cover it up. Whether it’s the superintendent or some HR employee. All need to be accountable. And get your kids out of the school system. Got mine out a few years ago and it was the best thing that happened to them.
Where do we take them??
Where was the “Principal”?
I wonder if there is a statute of limitations for this?
two years
The principle at south Smithfield needs to be replaced.
Agreed, not just replaced but released altogether. She should in no way be around children.
Amen to that! That school has gone downhill since Withrow and Makey have been gone. The entire administrative staff should be fired. They all had to know. CMA is their motto.
Everyone on the board needs to resign affected immediately
I’ll say it again…PRIVATIZE EDUCATION! The public school model is a failure and only benefits those in power.
Lol privatize? You don’t want to go down that road. A lot of stuff gets hidden when you privatize a school. And kids get left out. Just put the right people in positions and you want have this problem. Principle need to resign immediately alone with all board members and superintendent and anyone that knew anything
So only those who can afford it, get an education?
Name one thing a child can’t learn through an online course or YouTube that forces taxpayers to pay for a corrupt public education system?
Privatize so the same people can do the same jobs without oversight? okay.
But if you privatize education the government won’t be able to shove CRT and divers sexual perversities into young minds. That would be a tragedy.
There’s a man running in the elections to dismantle this school board. They’re disgusting and why we pulled ours out!!
I pulled ours too and yes we need to vote for people on the commissioners and school board who will not let this get swept under the rug!
Well, well, well, Isn’t this just perfect timing when asking for all those millions? You Tax Payers and Parents don’t even arise to the level of getting a response from the so-called Doctor in the school house? HEE, HEE, HEE, you got love this crowd!!! VOTE for me and keep me as a board member!!!
My granddaughter was assaulted by another special needs student and the school system did nothing, because wr did press charges on the child ,the county sheriff’s office did nothing! Johnston county schools need to be federally investigated! How much abuse has been going on unreported! This county is rotten to the core!
So true! Administrators who makes decisions at and for SSE, who’s JOB it is to “run” the school, keep our children safe, ha, should be held accountable. I think the individual school should be investigated, start from the bottom and work the way up, I suggest.
I hope this parent sues both the teacher and the ENTIRE school system. Someone ought to put hands on her thinking its okay to assault a FOUR YEAR OLD MULTIPLE TIMES.
Ronald Johnson is a god send to Johnston County. He may be the only honorable member on the board.
Completely Agree!!!
My husband and his sibling where all talking at his older sisters funeral a few weeks back about how a certain teacher in Wilson County would use a a hard wooden ruler on their hands when she thought they had misbehaved. They are the same age as I am but I grew up in Virginia. We never had a teacher lay a hand on us – it just wasn’t allowed. I still can’t figure out why the country folks down here allowed such horrid things to happen to their children….. almost like the parents just didn’t care.
The way kids act these days I don’t think the “board of education” is such a bad idea. They don’t get discipline in the home and then act like animals in school.
OMGOSH Soooo true!
When my 5 year old son was in kindergarten, he was punched in the face by a 10 year old daughter of a well known teacher at South Smithfield primary on the playground-with teachers watching.
My son had a black eye and was traumatized.
The girl was not even spoken to by the teachers. I took it as far as I could go, with no justice, and finally pulled my son out of the school. They all cover for each other, all the way up to the Superintendent’s office.
I know there are a few good teachers, but they are outnumbered by the bitter, resentful ones who should be required to attend anger management and sensitivity classes.
Absolutely correct!
Nothing, nothing happen, how can you sue when it takes a search warrant to even get the hidden information. Lawyers in Johnston county and Raleigh declined to go against the county. If you are not wealthy you lose, period.
Obstruction of Justice! Charge the principal and other administrators who failed to report this and charge the witnesses who failed to report this. The parents should file a civil suit against the school AND the COUNTY for allowing a policy such as this. The only way it will change is with people getting LOCKED UP and having to loose their homes and livelihoods because of paying for this!!
Amen to that! Start with the ones “in charge” AT THE school!
Folks do you remember when $180-K-Carroll threaten the school board with legal action to get the information he wanted before running for the school board again? Where is our Golden Boy $180-K-Carroll at nowand why isn’t he trying to shed light on the dark ugly business done by this school board? Umm, maybe he just preparing a grand entrance getting all this to surface like he did the last time?
https://jocoreport.com/johnston-county-school-board-threatened-with-lawsuit/
Federal law says you must report this to law enforcement, so I thought???? Where is Susan doyle on this matter?? Replace the Johnston county school board, get rid of bad actors and restore leadership and professionalism in our schools. Please, parents, get involved with your school, make this information public and transparent, that’s the only way to have accountability in a system. Write the school board and demand transparency.
It’s not that easy. I tried, my child was bullied by the teachers after I got involved. I had to move my child to another school!
Let’s not be so quick to take a pre k child’s word as gospel. I also know for a fact that teachers are struck by students and nothing happens to them either. Also, the parent could have reported the incident to the police himself.
This teacher has taught pre-k for years and has an exemplary record. There has never even been a hint of wrongdoing in the previous schools in which she taught. Quite the opposite. She was one of the first (if not the first) National Board Certified Teachers in Wayne County and is very active in her community and church. There are many previous co-workers and students who would attest to her professionalism, love of children and kindness. Maybe the school was slow in reporting because the allegations were so hard to substantiate.
My special needs daughter was assaulted in the bathroom while at school when she was in the 1st grade. I was never in the loop of any investigation, nor were any staff members in charge ever interviewed. The only police report I ever obtained, vaugly details what happened to my child. I asked for policies to be implemented and they never were. I’ve emailed the board members multiple times over the years and there’s never any concern on there end. I’ve even spoken at a boad meeting and nothing happened! Ron Johnson himself even knew and didn’t assist me in any way.
While this is a horrible situation, I do not think abuse is a widespread issue at any school or in any county. This article exposes what most JCPSS teachers already knew…..
What IS widespread in JCPSS is lying, covering up, mismanagement and unethical behavior of school level administrations and upper level county office employees.
The behaviors listed above has driven & is driving the the quality teachers in JCPSS to retire early, seek employment in private schools, or simply resign from disgust. The county will eventually be left with unqualified teachers and teachers that make poor decisions like the one listed in this article. School administrators and higher level county office employees (this includes Dr Bracy) have to be held accountable for their lack of oversight.
The school board needs to be filled with people that will listen to veteran teachers and not believe the B.S. that Dr Bracy and the cabinet tell them.
I’m going to have to disagree with you. This has been going on for quite some time with JCPSS. I can remember a teacher at cooper abusing a classmate all those years ago. Once my children were in this school system and I started volunteering I have seen it in so many schools it is absolutely terrifying! This is a huge problem here. The teachers are sat on pedestals and the kids are taking the brunt of it.
Where are the County Commissioners that didn’t vote with Mr. Fred to kill these millions of dollars for the school bond at? Are they giving a wink, wink to what the school board has done here by obstructing justice? Where is thier comments against thier counterparts on the school board or are they being supportive of the school board by remaining quite? Inquiring minds wants to know?
At a time when Al Byrd could step up and earn those votes that his political signs tells us all to keep Al Byrd on the school board, not a peep out of him. Kind of like Todd Sutton who has gave his notice of resignation, you all know the employee I am talking about? The employee that gives a month notice, but really quit six months ago. He just there to pad his bank account. Folks, these board members really feel you Tax Payers and Parents are so beneath them how dare you question why they supported the teacher that slapped that 4 year old little boy? H#ll, if they dont have any respect for the investigating law enforcement officer? Do you really think they have any respect for a Parent or a Tax Payer?
It’s not just Al Byrd. It’s all of them Typical of you to call the black man out
He called out more than one person. This isn’t about race And He didn’t make it about race. You shouldn’t either.
I would sue the crap out of the Whole School System had that been my child that was slapped. The whole School system has been nothing but a circus for the last several years full of clowns who are definitely not interested in putting the children first. When is it going to stop.. Folks remember all this when you go to the polls to vote..
Principal Susan Jones should be let go immediately!!!
She should have been gone long ago, she has no realization what goes on in school and doesn’t care, it’s just CMA .
She has turned that school into something everyone hates to be a part of. Most of her teachers asked for a transfer!
The admin in this school needs to be let go!! They condone bullying and are bully’s themselves. They don’t want anything known so they don’t get in trouble. Every parent that has had a child hurt or bullied in this school needs to go to Dr Bracy. This has to end!
You think Dr. Brady is the answer? Think again.
THE TEACHER SHOULD BE LOCKED UP FOR LIFE. PARENTS OF JC elementary parent Should go in fight the system. ALL SHOULD BE FOUND GUILTY AND LOOSE ALL BENEFITS AND SALARY
MAKE THEM REASONABLE .
GOD BLESS THAT LITTLE BOY
People it’s “lose” not loose.
Bracey hasn’t done anything at all for the school system except bring a few buddies on board and give them large salaries. We haven’t heard his name hardly at all since he became superintendent unless it was in the media
Everyone at the school and at central office that was involved with this and covered it up (including Bracey) should be held responsible and should have to answer for their actions on why they were covering this up. As well as Carla, it’s ironic that her brother in-law is running for school board…
Who is her brother in law? We need to know for the sake of the county.
It’s my understanding that nc school employees are mandated reporters, meaning they are required by law to report even the suspicion of abuse. This needs to rise to the state level.
Mark Lane is Carla Withrow’s brother in-law
This is not the only time a teacher assaulted a student & was allowed to resign this year. Just the first time it’s making the news.
Kind of ironic that a former principal from SSE is part of the effort to make this go away.