Warrant issued for former Fresno Unified white principal accused of hitting a black student with special needs

Security camera footage appears to show the now ex-principal, Brian Vollhardt, striking a student who has special needs, according to a source with the Fresno Unified School District who watched the video.

By Edward Era Barbacena

A former principal of Wolters Elementary School has been charged with child abuse and endangerment and a warrant has been issued for his arrest, the Fresno Police Department confirmed Wednesday.

Security camera footage appears to show the now ex-principal, Brian Vollhardt, striking a student who has special needs, according to a source with the Fresno Unified School District who watched the video.

 Vollhardt did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday. An FUSD spokesperson declined to comment but later issued a media statement that the district would host a news conference Thursday morning with the Fresno Police Department to discuss the “altercation” between the former principal and student.

Vollhardt came under investigation after a district employee contacted the police on June 9, department spokesperson Lt. Bill Dooley told The Bee’s Education Lab in an email Wednesday afternoon. 

A report and video evidence were entered into the department’s system on June 13, Dooley added. However, Dooley said the arrest warrant was signed Wednesday, a day after The Bee requested information about the case from police. 

Taylor Long, a spokesperson for the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, said prosecutors reviewed the case “first thing” Wednesday morning and filed a criminal charge against Vollhardt. Long said police sent the case to prosecutors late Tuesday.