An incident at Reilly Elementary School in Austin has led to the arrest of a first-grade teacher for unlawful restraint against a 6-year-old student. Luis Erasmo Resendiz Alvarado, the accused teacher, is now facing a state jail felony charge after the allegations were brought forth on September 11. According to CBS Austin, the Austin Independent School District officials immediately placed Alvarado on administrative leave upon receiving the report.
Surveillance footage from the school captures the moment Alvarado attempted to forcefully open a classroom door against which the student was pinned, as per KVUE. Captured on camera, the scene shows the teacher using his full body weight to try and open the door, even after making eye contact with the trapped student. The Austin ISD Police Department's investigation led to the arrest of Alvarado following this incident.
During an interview with the police, Luis Erasmo Resendiz Alvarado admitted that he was aware of the student's presence behind the door, telling officers, "I kept ... I kept him trapped," as stated by KVUE.
"The safety and well-being of your children are our highest priorities, and we have acted swiftly to address this incident," Austin ISD Deputy Superintendent Paty Rodriguez and Chief Human Capital Officer Brandi Hosack conveyed in a joint statement obtained by CBS Austin. The school district has since initiated termination proceedings for Alvarado, and counseling services are being offered to students in need.