A Las Vegas judge let a substitute teacher out of jail Friday after the educator was booked on assault charges over a fistfight that allegedly started because a student used a racial slur.
A Clark County judge waived a $9,000 bail requirement for Re’Kwon Smith during a court hearing Friday because the defendant lacked a criminal history, according to local CVS affiliate KLAS-TV.
The release conditions for Mr. Smith, 27, are avoiding further arrests and citations as well as staying away from Valley High School and the student involved in the fight.
He is due back in court May 28.
Mr. Smith was arrested Thursday after a fight broke during Valley High’s school day.
The fight, which was captured on video, supposedly started over the use of a racial slur.
The video shows a teacher and a student both wildly swinging at each other until the student is knocked to the ground. The teacher then looms over the boy and appears to say something before walking away.
“I see a teacher fighting a student, I’m like ‘wow,’” Valley High junior Andrew Acevez told KTNV, the local ABC affiliate. “And then the teacher is just standing over him, just slapping him, saying stuff to him, and I’m like, ‘Wow, that’s crazy.’”
NEW: Las Vegas substitute teacher arrested after fight with Valley High School student caught on camera.
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Re’Kwon Smith (27) faces charges including battery and assault on a school pupil.
Sources indicated that the fight began after a student used a racial slur.
Judge dropped… pic.twitter.com/AViV6Z3pKH
KLAS reported that the student was also arrested after the incident. The boy was still recovering at a local hospital.
The Clark County School District said it removed Mr. Smith from its substitute pool following the fight. He had been working for the school system since November.
“CCSD does not tolerate violence of any kind. Violence in any form is unacceptable and goes against the fundamental principles of education and respect,” a statement from the school district said, “Any altercation between a teacher and a student is thoroughly investigated, and appropriate disciplinary action is taken.”
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.
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