LARGO, Fla. — A preschool teacher was arrested Monday afternoon for child abuse of a 2-year-old student, deputies say.
Rebecca Bird forcefully grabbed the student several times and, at another time, caused the 2-year-old to fall to the ground, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.
The 62-year-old worked at Aldersgate Christian Learning Center since July 12 of this year and was fired on Monday morning after the school looked at the surveillance video, authorities say.
The mother of the student was reportedly informed by the school that her child had been abused.
The child's grandmother told 10 Tampa Bay the family is angry and devastated.
"What if something had happened to him? What if one of those falls where the lady had pushed him down, he had a brain bleed," said the grandmother who only wanted to use her first name, Amy, to protect her grandson's identity.
Amy said there was a bruise on her grandson's cheek and the family didn't know why.
"I’m angry. I’m devastated for my daughter and that little baby who can’t fight for himself," she said.
Amy and other parents with children who attend the school including Celeste Blanco are questioning why Bird worked there in the first place when a criminal background check shows DUIs in her past.
"When I drop my son off, I want him to be safe, I don’t want incidents like this to occur. Staff should be trained and background checked," Blanco said. She first learned about the incident on Facebook. Blanco added her heart sank when she saw it was her son's school.
Pastor Ben Stilwell-Hernandez who oversees the church and learning center said the Florida Department of Children and Families handles the background checks and determines who is eligible for hire. Stilwell-Hernandez said Bird was deemed eligible.
He said the director of the school came across the disturbing surveillance video by happenstance when she was initially viewing the recording to ensure snacks were being distributed. Stilwell-Hernandez said staff terminated Bird right away and alerted the sheriff's office, the child's family, and the Department of Children and Families.
Bird was charged with one count of felony child abuse.
Deputies say they believe there are no additional students who were abused by Bird.
The investigation remains ongoing, law enforcement says.