A Florida middle school teacher was taken into custody after allegedly pulling a seventh-grade student by the arm from his desk into a hallway—an event captured on school security cameras, according to reports.
Fada Concepcion, 52, who teaches science at Tuskawilla Middle School in Seminole County, was arrested on Thursday on charges of child abuse without great bodily harm following the incident that occurred on September 29.
Authorities stated that the incident occurred during third period, where it is claimed Concepcion dragged the student approximately 20 feet from the classroom into an outdoor hallway.
After the encounter, the student informed school officials, who reviewed the video footage and subsequently contacted law enforcement, as detailed in reports based on the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office investigation.
When questioned by deputies, Concepcion contested the account, claiming she had “no recollection” of dragging the student and asserting that she merely escorted him out of the classroom.
Her lawyer argued in court on Friday that the situation didn’t constitute child abuse. “The student was misbehaving, and my client used the term ‘escorting’… the detective described it as ‘dragging,’” the attorney explained.
He added, “Essentially, she took the child by the arm and led him from the room—there’s no evidence in this affidavit that the student suffered any injuries, like bruising or anything else. Child abuse requires more than just touching a child.”
A judge determined that there was enough cause for the case to progress and lowered Concepcion’s bond from $5,000 to $1,000.
Additionally, she has been prohibited from contacting the student and from returning to Tuskawilla Middle School.
Following the bond ruling, Concepcion was seen giving her attorney a double thumbs-up before exiting the courtroom.
While the investigation continues, Seminole County Public Schools has placed Concepcion on administrative leave.
A spokesperson for the district stated, “We take all allegations regarding our students’ safety and well-being seriously and will respond swiftly.”
“This teacher is currently on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. We will keep coordinating with law enforcement and the Office of Professional Standards as per district policies and procedures.”
The surveillance video purportedly showing the incident has not yet been made public.
Concepcion is set to return to court in November. Her attorney, Tony Duran, commented, “I don’t discuss ongoing litigation.”
