SALT LAKE CITY — An employee at a residential treatment facility in southern Utah is accused of splitting a teenager’s head open, according to charging documents.
Antonio Montav Ross-Jones, 23, of St. George, was charged Wednesday in 5th District Court with child abuse, a second-degree felony.
According to charging documents, Ross-Jones was a staff member at a residential treatment center for boys in Washington County. He got into a “physical altercation” with a 16-year-old resident. During the fight, the boy “sustained a head injury resulting in 11 staples to the back of his head. The juvenile male student appeared to be thrown to the ground on two separate occasions while being held in a chokehold-style restraint. He was also ‘slammed’ against the countertop as Antonio phrased it,” the charges state.
The boy’s head hit the tile floor, causing the injury, according to charging documents. The incident was recorded on the treatment center’s security system. Ross-Jones “narrated” what happened on Wednesday as he watched the video with sheriff’s deputies, the charges state.
“The residential treatment center advised that Antonio did not restrain the juvenile per the training provided. Antonio admitted during the interview he could have asked for help and did not restrain as taught,” according to charging documents.
Charging documents do not name the treatment center.