A Florida teacher was busted on child abuse charges for allegedly slamming down the arm of a nonverbal 3-year-old student before throwing away his lunch, leaving the boy to cry as his classmates ate.
Special education teacher Tonya Gainey, 57, was captured on surveillance footage striking the youngster at the Wise Center in DeFuniak Springs during lunchtime, before throwing out his food and ignoring the boy, according to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.
Police said the student – described as nonverbal – could be seen on video “crying and in pain.”
“Our agency worked diligently to assess the full scope of the situation,” Sheriff Michael Adkinson said in a statement.
“Her behavior is unacceptable, and the charges reflect that.”
School officials learned of the violent incident the following day, prompting an investigation by the Department of Children and Families, police said.
Attempts to remove the deranged teacher went awry when she refused to leave campus upon learning she could no longer have contact with students as officials conducted their probe.
Gainey had to be escorted off school property by a school resource officer.
The crazed instructor submitted her resignation to school officials via email in the midst of the chaos, police said.
It is not immediately known what sparked the alleged assault.
School officials informed parents of Gainey’s current and former students of the sudden blow, as a medical evaluation was conducted on the child victim. His condition was not made public.
The teacher was arrested on Dec. 13 and charged with felony child abuse and trespassing, according to court records.
She was booked at the Walton County Jail and released on $5,000 bond.
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