71-year-old teaching sub throws child into wall over dropped crayons, FL cops say

A 71-year-old substitute teacher threw an elementary school student into a wall as “punishment,” then he was fired from his job, Florida authorities said.

Casmore Shaw, described as a “long-term” substitute teacher at Neptune Elementary School, is now charged with child abuse by simple assault or battery, according to the St. Cloud Police Department.

He had been working with the school district since January 2023, a spokesperson said.

“The sub-teacher was immediately removed from the school when the incident happened and the allegation was investigated by law enforcement, which now has resulted in an arrest,” the Osceola School District said in a statement. “The individual is no longer employed by the district. Our focus will remain on supporting the student.”

The charge stems from an incident that occurred April 30 at the school, police said in a news release May 12.

Another teacher took the boy to the school nurse when she found him with bruises and scratches on his neck, then school personnel notified law enforcement, police wrote in an arrest affidavit.

The boy, who reportedly has behavioral issues, recounted he was sitting at his desk when he accidentally knocked a book onto the floor, then he picked it up and knocked over a box of crayons, according to the report.

Shaw then went up to his desk and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt “with such force that a button popped off,” police wrote in the affidavit. The student said the teacher lifted him up and took him to a corner of the room, according to police.

Three other students told officers they saw Shaw grab the boy by his shoulder and throw him, police wrote.

Officers said Shaw told them he had grabbed the student, but he didn’t do so out of anger and “did not intend to cause harm,” investigators said.

Police said they notified the child’s guardian of the allegations, and she initially declined to press charges but changed her mind when she saw his injuries in person. Her relationship to the child was redacted in the affidavit.

St. Cloud is about a 30-mile drive southeast from downtown Orlando.

This story was originally published May 14, 2025 at 2:09 PM with the headline "71-year-old teaching sub throws child into wall over dropped crayons, FL cops say."