350-pound teacher intentionally steps on students during lockdown drill, MN cops say

A 350-pound teacher is accused of using a sixth-grade student like a “stepping stool,” standing on top of him for 10 seconds, Minnesota authorities say.

Jason Rogers, a 47-year-old teacher at Underwood School in Otter Tail County, said he stepped on three students during a lockdown drill Feb. 10, according to a criminal complaint filed more than a month later.

The alleged actions happened during a lockdown drill, which he felt the students weren’t taking seriously, the probable cause statement says.

When the students were lying on their stomachs instead of sitting down, he told them “he could step on them,” according to the court documents.

The 350-pound teacher then intentionally stepped on one of the sixth-grade students, who began to cry, authorities said.

“(The child) did not know why Defendant did this because he did not hear him say anything about it and just stepped on him like he was a ‘stepping stool,” according to the complaint. “He stated the entire class saw it and thought Defendant had broken (the boy’s) back.”

Rogers stood on the boy for about 10 seconds before asking him if he was OK, the affidavit says. He said he was “concerned” when he learned the boy was excused from school for the remainder of the week.

The boy’s mother told authorities her son “was walking around like an 80-year-old from the pain in his back,” authorities said.

In a statement to InForum, Underwood School District Superintendent Jeff Wilson said Rogers was placed on administrative leave.

Rogers was charged with malicious punishment of a child, according to the court records. Attorney information for Rogers was not available.

Otter Tail County is about a 195-mile drive northwest from Minneapolis.