Marine Institute employee accused of striking teen

The institute fired the team leader, who was later arrested and charged by police.

By MATT WAITE
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 15, 2002

NEW PORT RICHEY -- An employee at the New Port Richey Marine Institute was fired Friday and arrested Saturday in an incident in which he is accused of hitting a student in the head with a broom handle.

Terry Lee Yuhouse, 39, of Clearwater was arrested at 3:44 p.m. Saturday, taken to the Land O'Lakes jail and faces a charge of child abuse.

According to the New Port Richey police report, Yuhouse told a student at the New Port Richey Marine Institute to sit down Thursday, but the student refused. The report said Yuhouse grabbed her left arm, and the teenager stepped backward on Yuhouse's shoe.

The report said Yuhouse then struck the teenager on the head with a broom handle that he had been carrying.

Ed Isolani, the director of the Marine Institute, on Monday said Yuhouse was a "team leader" dealing with students with behavioral problems. He said the incident had "everything to do" with Yuhouse's firing Friday.

"It is a direct violation of our policy," Isolani said. "It was a knee-jerk kind of reaction, but it was one that seemed to be controllable and unnecessary."

The student had a knot on her head but was not transported for medical treatment, Isolani said.

Yuhouse was released Saturday on $5,000 bail.

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