Bullying wounds lead to ER, police call

CLOVIS, N.M. (KRQE) - A New Mexico mom said her fifth-grade son was bullied so badly on the playground, he ended up at the hospital where police were called.

Melissa Jackson also claims teachers could have stopped it and that the school wanted to let the whole thing slide.

It happened Monday during recess at Lockwood Elementary School in Clovis.  Jackson's son, Anthony McDermott, 11, said a game of tag got out of hand when he was blindsided by another kid.

"I accidentally bumped that one kid, and he turned around and threw me up against the fence and started hitting me and hitting me and hitting me," recalled McDermott.

McDermott said he couldn't push the boy off. He said his friend eventually broke up the fight and that students told teachers about it.

McDermott's mom said he's been bullied by this boy before and that she's warned the school about it. She wants to know why a teacher didn't jump in.

"They were standing close when it happened; they weren't paying attention," Jackson said.

Jackson said the principal called her Monday afternoon and told her about the fight. She said she was told her son just had a scratch on his eye, and when she saw him, she was angry.

"It wasn't just a small scratch," Jackson continued.  "It was just ridiculous just looking at his face.  Any adult knows a scratch is completely different than a bruised eye, blackened face."

Jackson took her son to the hospital, where she said she was questioned as to why she didn't have a police report. However, Jackson claims the principal told her it was her responsibility to call police.

The hospital then called officers who took a report there.

Police told KRQE News 13 Clovis schools do have a school resource officer, but that officer is not always stationed at Lockwood. Police said they often depend on the schools to call them when law enforcement is needed.

However, in a battery case, police said school policy states they should call police.

Clovis school officials did not want to comment. Jackson said the school did tell her the alleged bully has been suspended and that school officials did follow procedures and policy.

As for her son, she's pulled him out of Lockwood and put him in a different school. She said she plans on sending the hospital bill to Lockwood.

Police said the case has been referred to the juvenile probation office to decide if the child accused of beating up McDermott will face battery charges.