A Hialeah Christian school teacher was arrested Thursday after classroom surveillance video allegedly showed her forcefully slamming an 8-year-old special-needs student to the floor, according to police. Investigators say the footage, recorded March 4, appears to clash with how the school internally described the incident. The boy, whom police documents describe as nonviolent and diagnosed with autism and ADHD, was later found with bruises and scratches.
As reported by Local 10, Hialeah police identified the teacher as 29-year-old Nikol Marie Rodriguez of Miramar. Officers said she was taken into custody shortly before 1:30 p.m. Thursday. The recorded encounters reportedly took place at Peace Christian Academy at 490 E. 50th St., where Rodriguez had been the boy’s primary educator since August 2024. Jail records list one count of child abuse without great bodily harm, with bond set at $5,000.
What the surveillance reportedly shows
Investigators say classroom cameras captured Rodriguez grabbing the boy by his left arm and bicep area, spinning him around, and later pulling his arms behind his back while he sat calmly on the floor. The arrest report alleges she then "forcefully slammed" the child’s upper body and head onto the classroom floor, pinned his head into a corner, and mounted his torso as he tried to get away. Another student nearby is said to have covered his eyes and ears during the struggle.
According to Local 10, the boy’s mother later discovered a small puncture wound on his bicep, along with bruising and scratches on his chest and arm, and staff did not immediately seek medical care. The school’s internal incident report described the encounter as a "supportive de-escalation" meant to prevent harm, but investigators told police the video did not match that account. Officers ordered Rodriguez to stay away from the child, and she declined to give a statement through her attorney.
Legal implications
Rodriguez is charged with child abuse without great bodily harm under Section 827.03 of the Florida Statutes. The offense is a third-degree felony, and under state law a third-degree felony can carry up to five years in prison and financial penalties as outlined in the Florida Statutes. Prosecutors are expected to review the arrest report, the surveillance footage, and any medical records before deciding whether to formally file charges in court.
Restraints and school reporting rules
State rules require public schools to document and report seclusion or restraint involving students with disabilities and to notify parents and district officials, according to Disability Rights Florida. The guidance limits certain dangerous techniques, requires post-incident reporting and monitoring, and emphasizes training and prevention. Advocates say private schools should mirror those safeguards and adopt clear, transparent reporting practices when vulnerable students are restrained.
Video-led investigations have surfaced before
Florida authorities have leaned on surveillance recordings in other school abuse cases. In May 2024, a private-school principal in Marion County was arrested after classroom video allegedly showed him restraining and abusing a student, as reported by WFTV. Incidents like these have fueled renewed calls for clearer training standards and stronger oversight of staff who work with children with disabilities.
Hialeah police say their investigation is still active and that prosecutors will determine the next steps. The school has not yet issued a public response. Local 10 reported it has requested comment from the school and will update its coverage as the case develops.
