School police officer pleads guilty to assault of 3 students, Sentencing has not been set #CounselorsNotCops

BALTIMORE — A school police officer pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of assaulting three students. Lakisha Pulley, the Baltimore City Schools resource officer, was caught on video last fall using a baton on three girls. She pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree assault.At the request of the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, a grand jury indicted Pulley in connection to the incident that happened at Vanguard Collegiate Middle School on Oct. 28. School surveillance video showed a physical altercation between Pulley and three female students. One of the students, Diamond McCullum, appeared to shove Pulley in the video, then back off.

Pulley gave chase and allegedly used her police baton to strike Diamond several times, the video showed. At least blow one landed on Diamond’s head, requiring treatment in an emergency room, authorities said.

Tashona Neals, Diamond’s mother, spoke to 11 News about the injury when the incident was first reported a month ago.

“She had six stitches,” Neals said. “No, I’m sorry, 10 — four on the inside and six on the outside.”

The city police union defended Pulley’s action as reasonable use of force, saying Diamond was resisting arrest.

A city grand jury decided otherwise. Pulley was indicted on a felony assault charge for allegedly hitting Diamond and misdemeanor assault charges for allegedly using pepper spray on the other two girls while they were being restrained by another school employee.

The three girls were originally charged in the incident. Those charges were dropped.

The girls are still fighting suspensions and transfers. Their lawyer is Jered Jaskot.

“We are happy to see the start of justice being done to this officer,” Jaskot said.

Pulley was also indicted on felony theft charges. The charge was related to a separate incident that happened at Vanguard Collegiate Middle School in November 2014. Officials said Pulley took goods intended for the school to her personal vehicle.

Prosecutors said that in November, Pulley stole food that had been mistakenly delivered to the middle school. The food had been donated by the Maryland Food Bank.

Pulley was suspended without pay and barred from school property. Her lawyer disclosed that she was five months pregnant and is arguing for low bail.

The city schools CEO defended the officer’s actions when he suspended the girls.

WBAL-TV 11 News lead investigative reporter Jayne Miller contributed to this story.