WSVN-TV reports that a seven-year-old boy has been arrested by police in Miami after repeatedly punching his teacher. During lunchtime, the boy reportedly got sent out of the cafeteria for playing with his food, after which he snapped and began to "attack" the teacher who asked him to leave. Repeatedly punching her on her back as he was brought through the hallway, the boy had to be restrained.
Despite being restrained, the boy reportedly tried to keep fighting the teacher, "grabbing her hair and pulling it towards him" according to the Miami Herald. After all the violence, he apparently calmed down and was taken to the principal's office. Following a meeting with the principal, during which the boy's parents were present, he was taken away in handcuffs by school officers much to the shock of his parents.
"I feel like my heart is broken," said his mother, Mercy Alvarez. "I was in shock. Shock," added his father, Rolando Fuentes. The teacher says she plans to press charges against the boy, to which Fuentes responded, "Says he's a danger to society. I said, 'What? Seven years old? A danger to society?' We have to make justice." Previously the boy was accused of kicking a different teacher last year, but it was resolved within the school without the need to be taken away by the officers.
His parents believe the handcuffs were a step too far, agreeing to the 10-day suspension from school but objecting to him getting taken away by officers or being brought in for psychiatric evaluation. Speaking in a statement, Miami-Dade Schools Police Ian Moffett explained, "This action was warranted to prevent his erratic and violent behavior from bringing further harm to others or himself. The manner in which he was transported to the receiving facility was done in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures.”
The school police have said the incident is currently under review.
