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Schools
Teacher accused of abusing teen after argument
School district officials say the teacher will likely be suspended; police say he slammed a 13-year-old student to the ground.
By SHANNON COLAVECCHIO-VAN SICKLER
Published April 1, 2005
TAMPA - The Hillsborough County School Board is expected to suspend without pay a first-year physical education teacher who was charged this week with one count of child abuse in an incident with a student.
School district spokesman Mark Hart said board members will likely suspend Luis Miguel Diaz, a physical education teacher at Clemmie Ross James K-8 School, when they hold their regularly scheduled board meeting Tuesday. Diaz, 29, of 5465 Fulmar Drive in northwest Hillsborough was arrested Wednesday afternoon by police at 1202 E Palm Ave. and booked on one count of child abuse, a third-degree felony. He posted $2,000 bail and was released early Thursday, jail records show.
According to the affidavit for Diaz's arrest, a verbal argument between Diaz and a 13-year-old student March 2 ended with Diaz "repeatedly" slamming the student to the ground.
About 2:15 p.m. that afternoon outside a portable classroom, Diaz told the unidentified student to go to class, said Tampa police spokesman Joe Durkin.
According to the affidavit, Diaz pointed a finger in the student's face, cursed at him and threatened him. When the student tried to walk away, Diaz slammed him to the ground "repeatedly," the affidavit states. Other students witnessed the incident, according to police.
Durkin said the student, whose bruised knee required medical attention, reported the incident to authorities that day.
Diaz's arrest this week came after the State Attorney's Office reviewed the evidence of the case, Durkin said.
For now, Diaz is on paid administrative leave. But Hart said that is a temporary measure until the School Board meets Tuesday.
"If these allegations are true," Hart said, "that's inappropriate use of force. There are proper proven ways to restrain a student if needed. But you do not get into fisticuffs with a student."
[Last modified April 1, 2005, 00:36:19]
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