A Florida public school teacher was arrested this week and accused of abusing a special-needs student in a classroom.
Beatriz Rapisarda, 41, faces charges of child abuse and false imprisonment for the incident at Sunrise Elementary School, the Palm Bay Police Department said.
Investigators say Rapisarda was seen by several witnesses pushing the student and grabbing their wrists.
According to WKMG, witnesses also saw Rapisarda drag the student about 30 feet to a bathroom, which the witnesses said the teacher used as a “form of punishment,” according to a police report. She left the student in the bathroom for about 10 minutes as the student banged on the door.
One witness said Rapisadra held the student down with her knee on the child’s back, pressing “all her weight” onto the student. She also wrapped the student into a Styrofoam mat “burrito style” for several minutes.
The police report said the student’s parents wanted to press charges against the teacher.
“After a thorough review of sworn statements and evidence, sufficient probable cause was established for her arrest,” police said in a statement.
Rapisarda was arrested at the school on Thursday.
Brevard Public Schools released a statement saying it is cooperating with the investigation and has placed Rapisarda on administrative leave until proceedings are completed.
