High school student accused of assaulting teacher

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — A student is behind bars accused of attacking a teacher who was trying to break up a fight.

Destiny Parker, 17, went before a judge Friday.

Parker’s mother, who was in the courtroom, told Channel 2’s Tom Jones that her daughter shouldn’t have been arrested, because she did not mean to harm the instructor. She says Parker didn’t punch the teacher and questioned why police at North Clayton High School locked her up.

“I don't think it was that bad to where they take her to jail off of it,” Constance Parker said.

Constance Parker says she was stunned to see her 17-year-old daughter in court with adults accused of crimes.

“She got all them chains on her, and I can't talk to her,” Constance Parker said.

“You did push and grab the victim, your teacher, several times, putting them in reasonable fear for their safety while attempting to fight another student,” Magistrate Judge Betrice Scott said in court.

Destiny Parker hung her head when she heard the charges.

Constance Parker says her daughter was trying to fight a girl who spat on her the day before when the teacher tried to stop the fight before it started.

“I guess she was like, OK, move out my way. I don't think she, like, literally grabbed him or jerked him up or none of that,” Constance Parker said.

Destiny Parker’s bond was set at $5,000.

Constance Parker says the teacher wasn't injured and arresting her daughter only adds to the problem.

“You could have sit her down and talked to her (or given her in-school suspension),” she said.

Constance Parker says she isn’t placing all the blame on school police.

“I just hope, right now, this is like a lesson learned for her to get out and do better,” she said.

A school district spokesperson told Jones the district could not comment about the case.

Cox Media Group