HIALEAH, Fla. — A 29-year-old teacher who works at a Hialeah Christian school has been arrested after police said she abused a special needs student during multiple incidents captured on classroom surveillance video last month.
Hialeah police said Nikol Marie Rodriguez, of Miramar, was taken into custody before 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
They said the incidents occurred March 4 at Peace Christian Academy, located at 490 E. 50th St.
According to an arrest report, the victim, who was 8 years old at the time, is diagnosed with autism and ADHD and “is able to comprehend simple instructions, but has difficulty articulating more than a simple request.”
Police said the boy is not known to be violent and lives with his mother.
Rodriguez had been the boy’s primary educator since August 2024 and was responsible for “care, supervision, and services essential for the child’s physical and mental health,” the report states.
Investigators said surveillance video shows an interaction just before 11 a.m. when Rodriguez “appears to physically assist the victim by grabbing hold of the victim’s left arm” and then “grabbing the victim’s right arm and bicep area, spinning the victim in an aggressive manner.”
They said more serious allegations stem from a later incident around 12:45 p.m. that day when the boy was sitting calmly on the floor and “was not in any way displaying physically threatening behavior.”
Despite that, the report states that Rodriguez allegedly restrained the boy by pulling his arms behind his back, causing him to have pain. Police said the boy “was observed struggling with the restraint technique, appearing to be in agony,” while another student nearby covered his eyes and ears.
They said the situation escalated further when Rodriguez was seen “forcefully slamming the victim’s upper body and head onto the classroom floor” and continued to restrain him by pinning his arms and applying pressure to his upper body.
The report describes the boy attempting to escape while Rodriguez remained in control, at one point pinning his head into a classroom corner and mounting his torso.
After the struggle, police said Rodriguez is accused of pushing the child into a table as he tried to stand.
They said Rodriguez did not seek medical assistance or provide care afterward.
Later that evening, the boy’s mother discovered injuries, including “a small puncture wound” on his bicep, along with bruising and scratches to his chest and arm, according to the report.
An internal school report described the incident as a “supportive de-escalation” effort intended to prevent harm, stating Rodriguez “placed her hands on his sides in order to provide physical support.” However, investigators said surveillance video contradicted that account.
Police said Rodriguez declined to provide a statement through her attorney.
Jail records show she is facing one count of child abuse without great bodily harm, according to jail records.
As of Friday, she was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where her bond was listed at $5,000. She was also ordered to stay away from the victim.
Local 10 News has requested a statement from the school about the incident and whether she is still employed.
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