Des Moines teacher accused of assaulting special education student

A Des Moines fifth-grade teacher has been accused of assaulting a special education student on two occasions in April, according to a police report.

Anita Babe, 49, of Des Moines, has been charged with assault causing bodily injury or mental illness. Babe is a fifth-grade teacher at Hubbell Elementary School in Des Moines, and has worked for the district since 1991. Her annual salary is $65,541, according to district records. Babe was acting as dean of students during the time of the incident.

A Des Moines woman told police on April 18 that Babe assaulted her 12-year-old son on two occasions in April at Hubbell, 800 42nd St.

The woman told police that Babe went into her son's special education classroom to discipline him on April 10. Babe was accused of grabbing the victim by his arms, pulling him and causing bruises on his arms.

The victim's mother told police that Babe went into her son's special education classroom to discipline him again on April 15. She said Babe grabbed the boy by his arms, which caused bruising.

Police took photos of the victim's bruising, the report stated.

The victim has heart problems and oppositional defiant disorder, the woman told police. She said her son cannot take medication for oppositional defiant disorder because of his heart medication.

Carrie Belt, Hubbell's principal, told police she was not in the building when the incidents reportedly occurred. Belt said Babe dealt with student discipline issues in her absence.

Belt told police Babe denied placing her hands on the victim. Belt told police a staff member said he saw Babe put her hands on the victim and the school's nurse took photos of the victim's bruises, the report stated.

Babe has been put on administrative leave while the district conducts an internal investigation, said Amanda Lewis, communications officer for Des Moines schools.

Lewis did not immediately know when Babe had been put on administrative leave or what the time frame was for the internal investigation.

Babe and her attorney could not immediately be reached by phone Thursday afternoon.