Crossing Guard Punched In Viral Video Resigns As Cops Arrest Suspect In Unprovoked Attack

A Pennsylvania schoolhouse crossing defender who was violently attacked successful a viral video extracurricular an elementary school has resigned pursuing nan incident, while nan man accused of punching her was later recovered and arrested Friday in South Carolina.

Rashiem Russell, 29, of West Philadelphia, allegedly punched nan unidentified female guard, who is successful her 30s, Monday astir 3:50 p.m astatine nan intersection of South 6th and Walnut streets extracurricular Walnut Street Elementary School successful Darby.

Darby Police Chief Joe Gabe said investigators judge Russell became impatient aft nan crossing defender stopped postulation for students boarding a bus, NBC 10 reports. He allegedly began honking and revving his motor earlier getting retired of his conveyance and confronting her.

Video obtained by nan outlet shows nan man chasing nan defender on nan sidewalk, concisely blocking her path, past punching her successful nan look and knocking her to nan crushed earlier fleeing connected foot.

The defender suffered a concussion and is recovering some mentally and physically from nan attack, according to Risa Desilva-King, CEO of Safe Corridors, nan institution that employed her. She has since resigned from her position.

"There were children opinionated correct location and he proceeded to battle a female who was doing her job," Desilva-King told NBC 10. “Completely unacceptable. Completely."

After nan onslaught video dispersed wide online, Darby Borough constabulary asked for nan public’s thief identifying nan suspect, while Pennsylvania State Sen. Anthony H. Williams announced a $5,000 reward for accusation starring to an apprehension and conviction.

Authorities later identified nan fishy arsenic Russell, and nan Delaware County District Attorney’s Office issued a warrant for his arrest. Investigators tracked him to South Carolina, wherever they learned he had a adjacent family connection.

Members of nan U.S. Marshals Philadelphia Task Force coordinated pinch nan Carolinas Regional Task Force and located Russell astatine a location successful Darlington astir 11 a.m. Friday, nan U.S. Marshals Service successful Philadelphia announced successful a social media post. He was taken into custody without incident.

Officials said Russell attempted to explicate himself during nan arrest, but deputies declined, informing him that their domiciled was strictly to find and apprehend him.

Russell now faces aggravated battle and related charges and is being held successful nan Florence County Jail while awaiting extradition backmost to Pennsylvania.