According to the New York Post, a 59-year-old instructor at Forest Lake Elementary in Volusia County was detained on Saturday on suspicion of using her thighs to lock a 3-year-old pupil in a chokehold during school.
Vilma Otero has 36 years of teaching experience, which includes working with special needs kids. She is currently facing a misdemeanor charge of abusing a child without seriously harming her.
A paraeducator witnessed the incident and reported it to the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), according to an arrest oath, according to local media reports.
The paraeducator claimed she witnessed the child trying to free himself from the stranglehold while Otero was sitting in a chair with him between her feet.
The child, who has autism, apparently had difficulty communicating with deputies but was able to say,” She hurt me”, and mentioned getting “in difficulties at school”.
Deputies found little inflammation on the child’s neck and observed real signs consistent with the paraeducator’s accounts. Even after being shown pictures of the event, Ottero denied restraining the baby in the manner described.
She claimed that she had over 36 years of experience, especially with young people with special needs, and that she had also learned that when children needed to quiet down, she had to move them to a different area.
Deputies detained Otero on a misdemeanor charge of child abuse without serious bodily harm on the grounds of the physical facts and the paraeducator’s consideration. Otero has been placed on administrative leave by the Volusia County School District until the results of a detailed research conducted by its Professional Standards office.
” Volusia County Schools (VCS) is aware of the recent imprisonment of a Forest Lake Elementary professor. VCS takes this scenario very seriously and is committed to the health and well-being of all of our kids. Our Professional Standards department is currently conducting a complete investigation to determine the correct next steps. The declaration read,” The teacher is now on administrative leave.
