Gordon County substitute teacher charged after video shows her dragging 9-year-old student into hallway, dropping him

Written by: E. George

Published November 11, 2024 @ 11:20 AM ET

Warning: The following story contains information regarding alleged physical violence against children.

GORDON COUNTY, Ga. – Authorities arrested a substitute teacher at Swain Elementary School on October 25, 2024, after a report of suspected child abuse. Olivia Jewell Forrest of Calhoun faces charges of simple battery and disrupting public schools.

Gordon County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the school and spoke with the principal, who explained that an incident involving a distraught student caused her to review security footage of the hallway outside the classroom. After speaking with Forrest and watching the video, she decided to alert law enforcement.

In the footage, the deputies observed Forrest dragging a nine-year-old male student out into the hallway. Their feet become tangled, and she stumbles forward, dropping the boy.

Deputies escorted Forrest from the school property and transported her to the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center for processing. Forensic interviews were requested in this ongoing investigation.

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]

On Friday, October 25, 2024 at approximately 0900 hours CAT J. T. JENKINS with the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office responded to 2505 Rome Road Plainville Georgia 30733 in regards to being advised by DEP E. A. OCHOA that there had been a report of a possible assault of a student by a substitute teacher.

Upon arrival CAPT JENKINS meet with [WITNESS #1], Principal of Swain Elementary School. Mrs. [WITNESS #1] advised that she was called to a class room being overseen by substitute teacher OLIVIA FORREST due to an issue with a student named juvenile [VICTIM #1]. Mrs [WITNESS #1] advised that she was trying to talk with the juvenile [VICTIM #1], but he was upset and did not want to talk. Mrs. [WITNESS #1] advised she looked into the class room that Ms. FORREST was in and saw another student named juvenile [VICTIM #2] who appeared to be very upset. Mrs. [WITNESS #1] advised that she called another staff member to take care of juvenile [VICTIM #1] and another teacher to cover Ms. FORREST class and asked Ms. FORREST to come to her office to talk about what had taken place. Mrs. [WITNESS #1] advised that she had [REDACTED] the school counselor come talk to juvenile [VICTIM #2]. MRS. [WITNESS #1] advised that when she got the front office she asked for the video cameras to be checked to see if anything had happened in the hallway.

After speaking to Mrs. FORREST, Mrs. [WITNESS #1] advised that she watched the video and decided to contact law enforcement.

Upon arrival at Swain, CAPT JENKINS spoke briefly with Ms. FORREST and asked her if she would be willing to talk later at the sheriff’ office and she agreed and left Swain.

CAPT JENKINS was shown the video of the incident in the hallway. In the video Ms. FORREST is seen dragging juvenile [VICTIM #1] into the hallway from the class room. During this dragging the feet of Ms. FORREST and juvenile [VICTIM #1] get tangled up causing Ms. FORREST to stumble forward and drop juvenile [VICTIM #1].

CAPT JENKINS met with Ms. FORREST at the sheriff’s office. After advising Ms. FORREST of her Miranda rights she voluntarily signed the Miranda form and spoke with CAPT JENKINS. At the conclusion of the interview CAPT JENKINS advised Ms. FORREST that she was being charged with simple battery and disruption of a public school. Ms. FORREST was escorted without incident to the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center for processing.

CAPT JENKINS is filing request for forensic interviews which are pending.

The investigation continues.

[End of Narrative]