The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said a school bus attendant was arrested for abusing a child with special needs.
Deputies said Juanita Tappin, 43, was charged with three counts of child abuse and three counts of abuse of a disabled adult.
The Polk County Sheriff's Special Victims Unit said they started an investigation after a school nurse documented two red welts on the child’s face.
Detectives said they talked to the victim and reviewed the bus video, which showed Tappin hitting the victim 11 separate times by popping her with a rubber band and hitting her on her face and neck.
In the video, investigators said they saw Tappin punch other victims, strike other victims with a hard-plastic seatbelt cutter tool, and hit victims with a rubber band by snapping it on their faces and necks.
Deputies said the other victims were three children with disabilities and three adults with disabilities.
Law enforcement said some of the victim’s disabilities hindered them from being able to report the abuse because they’re non-verbal.
During an interview with detectives, the suspect denied hitting the students, and said she was acting in a "playful manner."
According to Polk County Public Schools, Tappin is on paid administrative leave at this time.
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