Police charge mental health worker accused of assaulting child at Welland school

Detectives from the Niagara Regional Police’s Child Abuse Unit have arrested and charged a youth mental health worker accused of assaulting a child at a school in Welland.

They have been investigating allegations since April of an assault that took place at Mountainview Centre for Innovative Learning located at 1604 Merrittville Highway.

Each classroom of this Pathstone’s school has a teacher and a mental health counsellor to provide specialized programs for children with various mental health and learning challenges.

Detectives were contacted following concerns of a mental health counsellor using restraint techniques outside of their extent of training on a child at the school.

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Niagara police say the investigation has determined that the actions taken by the counsellor suggested excessive use of force and assault.

On Thursday, officers arrested and charged 22-year-old Madison Porkolab of Grimsby with one count of assault.

Detectives say they believe there may be more victims and are asking for those victims to come forward.

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service’s Child Abuse Unit at 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1008430.

Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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