Teacher Arrested After Dragging 3-Year-Old, Causing Severe Arm Injury

Ansonia, CT – A shocking incident at Mead School has led to the arrest of a pre-K special education teacher, Mary Durso-Smith, 32, of New Haven. On March 25th, Durso-Smith allegedly dragged a three-year-old student off a slide, causing a fractured and dislocated arm that required surgery. Ansonia Police reviewed school surveillance video and determined the incident was not accidental. "During the course of the investigation there was video of the incident which led the investigating officer to determine the incident was not accidental," stated Ansonia Police. Durso-Smith, who had worked at the school for about a year, claimed the boy fell accidentally. However, the school principal, upon viewing the video, reported the incident to police. The video and the child's medical records were reviewed by DCF and a team of doctors at Yale New Haven Hospital, confirming the severity of the injury and its likely cause. Durso-Smith appeared before a judge on June 6th and was granted a continuance until June 24th. She is no longer employed by the school district and has been instructed not to contact the child or his family. The child's family plans to file a civil lawsuit against both the school district and the city. This case highlights the importance of thorough investigations into incidents involving children and the need for accountability within educational institutions.