GIBSONTON, Fla. — A teacher in Hillsborough County faces a child abuse charge after authorities say he punched a student in the face, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said in a release. The child reportedly has autism and is non-verbal.
According to deputies, 39-year-old Prechae Rodriguez worked as a behavior support teacher at Eisenhower Exceptional Center, also known as Eisenhower Middle School, off Old Big Bend Road in Gibsonton.
Detectives said their investigation began on Feb. 8 after receiving reports that a teacher had hit a student. Rodriguez reportedly hit the 9-year-old student, who has autism and is nonverbal, after the boy "struck" Rodriguez with his hand.
The hit from the child reportedly led Rodriguez to punch the 9-year-old in the face, causing the boy to fall to the ground.
Information gathered by detectives regarding this incident led the sheriff's office to arrest Rodriguez on Feb. 19 and charge him with one count of child abuse.
“I am disgusted by the actions of this individual who was not only in a position of authority and trust but was given the responsibility to protect our most vulnerable," Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a release. "No child, under any circumstance, should be subject to this level of violence. There is no place for the abuse of children in our schools or in our community, and our detectives will continue to work to ensure that all of our students are protected.”
In a statement, a Hillsborough County Schools spokesperson Rodriguez has been fired.
"Mr. Rodriguez was removed from the school while the investigation was going on and has now been terminated from the district," Tanya Arja said. "We are deeply disturbed by the charges. The safety and wellbeing of our students is our top priority."