Teacher Arrested After Allegedly Assaulting 5-Year-Old Special Needs Student

SELMA, N.C. – A Selma Elementary School teacher is no longer employed by Johnston County Public Schools after an incident that led to her arrest Friday for allegedly striking a 5-year-old special needs student inside her classroom.

Cathy Lynn Medlin, 50, of Goldsboro, was charged with misdemeanor child abuse and misdemeanor assault on a child under age 12.

The incident reportedly happened Thursday morning, Sept. 24, at Selma Elementary School on West Richardson Street.

According to Selma Police, a teacher assistant witnessed the incident and immediately reported it to the school principal. The principal notified the school resource officer, and police launched an investigation.

It started when a 5-year-old kindergarten student became upset during class and crawled underneath a table.

According to the teacher assistant, Medlin alleged said, “Not today,” removed items from the top of the table and flipped the table over. The witness told police Medlin then jerked the child’s arm, but the student did not move.

The child began swinging his hands in a fluttering motion toward Medlin but did not strike her, according to the witness.

Medlin reportedly told the child, “I wish you would because I hit back.”

Police said the child made the motion again. The teacher assistant told investigators Medlin then pulled her arm back and swung with a full motion, striking the 5-year-old in the side of his rib cage.

According to the police report, the impact made a loud thud that the witness said indicated the child was struck with more than light force.

The teacher assistant said the other students in the classroom stopped what they were doing and looked toward Medlin after the alleged strike.

According to the witness, the child never made physical contact with Medlin.

The teacher assistant told police the child was crying and visibly upset after the incident.

Medlin reportedly contacted the child’s parents afterward and told them the student had hit her, but did not tell them she had struck the child.

The teacher assistant told police Medlin then stood in front of the classroom and said, “That’s what happens when you hit someone. I hit back. I don’t care if (teacher assistant) reports me.”

The teacher assistant also told investigators Medlin said she did not care if the incident was reported to school administrators because she was prepared to submit her notice and become an Uber driver.

The child’s parents responded to the school after being notified of the incident.

Police offered to have EMS evaluate the child. His parents declined and said they would have him examined by his pediatrician.

Police said the child suffered a minor injury.

Medlin was interviewed by Selma Police on Thursday as part of the investigation.

She resigned from her teaching position Thursday.

Medlin turned herself in Friday at the Johnston County Detention Center in Smithfield, where the two misdemeanor warrants were served.

Selma Police Chief Justin Vause praised school administrators and staff for immediately reporting the incident and cooperating with investigators.

“First and foremost, I want to thank the administration and staff at Selma Elementary School for acting quickly and appropriately by notifying law enforcement when this incident was brought to their attention. Their cooperation was critical in allowing our officers and detectives to respond promptly and begin a thorough investigation,” Vause said.

“I also want to commend the men and women of the Selma Police Department who handled this investigation with professionalism, diligence, and compassion, particularly given the circumstances involving a special needs student.”

“Our responsibility is to protect the most vulnerable members of our community, and we take that responsibility very seriously. Because this is an ongoing investigation involving a juvenile, we will not be releasing additional details at this time.”

Medlin was given a $4,000 secured bond on Friday pending her first appearance in court.