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Michigan Family Says District Didn't Address 'Hug Day' Assault On Teen Girl

CALEDONIA, Mich. (WWJ/AP) - A Michigan family says a school district didn't properly respond to an alleged physical assault of a 14 year old girl.

Attorney Christine Yared says it all began when students at Duncan Lake Middle School, in the Grand Rapids area, went around giving hugs last August, on what they believed was "National Hug Day."

When Adrien Mahoney approached a teenage boy at a high school football game and asked for a hug, it didn't go over well.

"He slapped her hard across the face to the point where she fell to the ground," Yared tolld WWJ's Sandra McNeill. "He then kind of went over her body, kind of crouched over and continued to assault her."

Mahoney was allegedly struck by the other teen multiple times.

"When Adrien went home, really upset, her mom noticed kind of a red hand print on her cheek and a bruised eye, and then the next morning it turned into a black eye," Yared said.

Yared claims school officials never informed her clients if the student was disciplined, saying only that they were looking into the matter.

Mahoney is a female, but Yared said the teen presents herself as a boy — with clothing and a haircut typically associated with males. The family believes may be a factor in the district's inaction, Yared said, and they're now mulling their next move.

Officials say they can't comment on an ongoing investigation.

© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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