Miami

Miami-Dade Teacher Arrested After 2nd Grader Roughed Up

A South Florida father is outraged after he said his 8-year-old daughter was injured at the hands of a teacher at her school.

Little Tamara Gonzalez suffered scratches and bruises after she says the teacher aggressively dragged her at Caribbean K-8 Center in Southwest Miami-Dade.

Toni Renee Boykin was arrested and fired for the alleged attack, school officials said. Boykin was charged with child abuse.

"Grabs me by the hair, goes around the table, drags me and gets me off the table and drags me on the floor and I was hitting myself and she scratched me so I grabbed onto her necklace and her leg," said Tamara. The incident happened Thursday in the school’s cafeteria.

Teacher Arrested Student Roughed Up

The girl’s father, Eddie Gonzalez, was disturbed when he found out through her foster guardian.

"I felt very angry. I felt very hurt because she's an eight-year-old. You don't do that to a child, you don't do that basically to anyone but I think that's just completely wrong," Gonzalez said.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools released a statement regarding the incident:

“Immediately upon learning about the disturbing allegations, Miami-Dade Schools Police began its investigation. The employee has since been arrested and dismissal procedures have been initiated. The alleged actions are reprehensible and unacceptable. Our decision to terminate, even as the criminal proceedings evolve, is guided by our highest priority - the protection and welfare of our students.”

Tamara says she was suspended for an incident that happened at the YMCA, but that has now been lifted. She'll be back at school on Monday.

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