A Bible teacher at a Homestead middle school was arrested Monday after parents told police their child’s mouth had been taped shut during a dispute in class. Homestead officers went to First United Methodist Christian School, opened an active investigation and took the teacher into custody. Jail records show he was booked into county jail and later posted bond.
Police Say Mouth Was Taped After Classroom Dispute
According to Homestead police, officers responded to the campus following a report of battery and met with the student’s parents, who said their child’s mouth had been taped shut after a disagreement with a teacher, NBC6 South Florida reports. Investigators pursued the complaint and arrested the teacher at the school on a charge of simple battery. Police say the investigation remains active as detectives continue taking statements and gathering evidence.
School Directory Lists Bible Teacher By Name
The school’s online staff directory lists a “Mike Alvarez” as the middle school Bible teacher, according to the FUMCS staff directory. Local reporting and booking records identify the man taken into custody as Michael Alvarez and show he was brought to the Miami-Dade Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and later bonded out, per the Miami Herald. The school website also notes employees’ legal duty to report suspected child abuse and lists contact information for the Florida Abuse Hotline.
Florida Battery Law And Similar Cases
Under Florida law, battery is generally charged under Florida Statute 784.03 as a first-degree misdemeanor, with potential penalties that can increase based on prior convictions or the extent of any harm. Florida Statute 784.03 lays out the elements of the offense and possible sentencing ranges. Allegations of school staff using tape on students have surfaced elsewhere in Florida this year, including a January case in which a school employee was investigated for taping a student’s mouth shut, a situation that had a prior reported incident in 2023, according to WPTV/WFLX. The recurring claims have fueled questions about oversight and reporting practices.
Next Steps In The Case
Homestead police say their investigation is ongoing and that detectives will turn over their findings to prosecutors, who will decide how to proceed with any formal charges. The Miami Herald reports the school did not immediately respond to requests for comment on any disciplinary action or the teacher’s employment status. Police are asking anyone who may have information relevant to the case to contact investigators.
