Shocking Allegation: Teacher Allegedly Put Autistic Child in Chokehold!
A teacher has been arrested after allegedly putting a 3-year-old boy with autism in a chokehold during story time at Forest Lake Elementary School in Deltona. Vilma Otero, 59, now faces a felony child abuse charge.
The incident reportedly happened last Friday. According to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, a paraeducator who works with Otero in the classroom witnessed the event.
According to FOX35, The paraeducator said she saw Otero reading to the children when she heard the boy scream and cry. Upon looking over, she saw the child being held between Otero’s legs in a chokehold. She took pictures of the situation and reported it to the Department of Children and Families (DCF).
When deputies later spoke to the child, he said, “I got in trouble at school,” and “she hurt me.” Deputies also noticed a slight redness on his neck. Otero, who has been a teacher for 36 years, mostly working with children with disabilities, admitted that physically restraining a child in such a manner would be wrong but denied doing so even when presented with photographic evidence.
Otero was taken into custody at the Volusia County jail without any further incidents. Volusia County Schools has released a statement saying they are aware of the arrest and are taking the matter seriously.
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They have placed Otero on administrative leave and are conducting a thorough investigation through their Professional Standards department to determine the next steps.