Florida teacher beaten and hospitalized after attack by 5-year-old student, police say
The victim could "blink and breathe regularly" but was not able to "vocally respond" following beating at Pines Lakes Elementary School in Pembroke Pines.
March 7, 2022, 11:27 AM EST
By
David K. Li
A south Florida teacher was taken to the hospital last week after she was attacked by a 5-year-old student, leaving her "dazed" and "unresponsive," authorities said.
The unidentified instructor was found by first responders “sitting on the ground against the wall" and "appearing to be in a faint state" at
Pines Lakes Elementary School, about 15 miles southwest of downtown Fort Lauderdale, according to a heavily redacted Pembroke Pines Police Department incident report.
The victim was "clearly weak and dazed," able to "blink and breathe regularly but at no point was able to vocally respond or show signs of a response," the report said.
The troubling incident started when a 5-year-old had to be removed from class for “throwing things around” and “flipping the chairs,” police said.
The youngster was taken to an empty “cool down” room, where the attack on the teacher allegedly took place, police said. The teacher was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood. Her young alleged attacker was charged with "aggravated assault with hands, fist and feet," authorities said.
A police spokeswoman on Monday told NBC News she did know know the instructor's condition and a representative for the teachers union could not be immediately reached for comment. Broward County Public Schools officials referred all questions about the beating to police.
The district, though, did share a message that Principal Susan Sasse sent to parents and staff, acknowledging there had been "an incident that occurred in school" which required "a staff member to be transported to a local medical facility" on Wednesday last week.
"At all times during the incident, our campus was secured," Sasse reported. "As always, the health, safety and well being of our students and staff continues to be my highest priority."
The school has nearly 800 students, who range in age from pre-kindergarten through the fifth grade.