CANUTILLO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Three people have been arrested after an investigation into staff conduct in a special education classroom at Deanna Davenport Elementary School, according to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit, assisted by the Canutillo Independent School District Police Department, concluded an investigation involving staff members assigned to a Special Education Behavioral Intervention Classroom at the Canutillo ISD campus.
The investigation began after school administrators reported surveillance footage that showed concerning interactions between school employees and students.
Detectives reviewed video evidence, conducted interviews and gathered additional evidence during the investigation.
Investigators determined that several students assigned to the classroom were allegedly subjected to assaultive conduct and other inappropriate treatment while under the supervision of school staff, officials with the sheriff’s office said.
As a result, 32-year-old Josue Urrutia, a paraprofessional, was charged with three counts of injury to a child/disabled individual. Bond was set at $25,000 for each count, for a total of $75,000.
Ruth Julieta Flores, 59, a special education teacher, was charged with two counts of failure to stop or report sexual or assaultive offense against a child. Bond was set at $20,000 for each count, for a total of $40,000.
Cecilia Rocha-Lucero, 27, a substitute teacher, was charged with one count of failure to stop or report sexual or assaultive offense against a child. Bond was set at $20,000.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be filed as new information becomes available.
KFOX14/CBS4 reached out to the Canutillo ISD regarding the arrests.
The district said that it cooperated with authorities and that the suspects no longer work for the Canutillo ISD.
The statement, however, refers to the suspects as “four individuals” even though only three were reported as arrested.
KFOX14/CBS4 is working to learn more or clarify this information.
Below is the district’s statement:Canutillo ISD remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting children and maintaining safe, supportive learning environments for every student we serve.When concerns regarding the alleged improper treatment of students at Davenport Elementary School were brought to the District’s attention, we acted immediately. The employees implicated in the allegations were removed from campus, an internal investigation was initiated, and reports were made to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. Canutillo ISD has fully cooperated — and continues to cooperate — with law enforcement and prosecutors throughout the investigative process.As a result of the District’s internal investigation and in accordance with District policies, four individuals involved in this matter are no longer employed by Canutillo ISD. We will continue working with the appropriate authorities to ensure that anyone found responsible is held legally accountable for actions that endangered the safety and well-being of children.Our focus remains on supporting the students and families affected by this situation. Throughout this process, the District has worked closely with impacted families and will continue providing access to counseling services and other available resources.Families place a special trust in our schools and educators, and we take that responsibility seriously. We expect every employee to share in the commitment to care for, protect, and support our students. The allegations and actions associated with this case represent a serious breach of that trust and fall far short of the standard of care our students and families deserve.Canutillo ISD is actively reviewing its procedures, practices, and safeguards to identify additional measures that can further strengthen student protections and help prevent incidents like this from occurring in the future.Nothing is more important than the safety and well-being of our students. We remain committed to ensuring that our schools are safe, secure, and supportive environments where every child can learn and thrive.
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