Verona man charged in Promise School student assault

RANKIN, Pa. — Allegheny County police charged Joseph Golden III Tuesday in connection with an April 12 incident at the Rankin Promise School.

Golden, 50, of Verona, turned himself in Tuesday morning and was subsequently arraigned before a judge, police said. Golden was released on his own recognizance.

Police said Golden, who is a behavior specialist at the Promise School, twice lifted a 13-year-old student by the neck and carried him along the school’s hallway during a physical altercation with the boy.

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The incident was brought to the attention of the General Investigations Unit through a ChildLine referral on Thursday, police said. Detectives responded to assist the Rankin police with the investigation.

Golden was charged with single counts of simple assault and endangering the welfare of children, according to police.

Superintendent Alan Johnson said in a statement to Channel 11 News: "We are extremely disappointed by this employee's actions. They are terrible and inconsistent with the values we hold dear here at Woodland Hills."

Golden is suspended and Channel 11's Marlisa Goldsmith has learned the district is in the process of trying to fire him.

Cox Media Group