'Disgusting and reprehensible;' Bradenton ESE teacher, teacher’s aide accused of tying up non-verbal student
BRADENTON, Fla. - A Bradenton ESE teacher and a teacher's aide are both accused of tying up a 7-year-old non-verbal student, police said.
The Bradenton Police Department said the ESE teacher and teacher's aide, identified as 31-year-old Carina Chindamo and 39-year-old Taylor Internicola, both taught at G.D. Rogers Garden-Bullock Elementary School.
Pictured: Carina Chindamo. Courtesy: Bradenton Police Department
Detectives said security camera video from the school's playground showed Chindamo and Internicola tying the 7-year-old boy's wrists with a nylon walking rope. The rope is used to teach students to walk in a line.
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However, the rope was then wrapped around the leg of a chair with the little boy sitting on the ground behind it. Authorities said he was restrained with the rope for about one hour.
Throughout the video, police said Chindamo and Internicola were seen sitting on the chair, appearing to use their weight to keep the child from getting free.
Detectives have obtained warrant for their arrests on false imprisonment charges. Chindamo has been arrested, and they are working to arrest Internicola. They are also continuing to investigate the case, and are working to determine if there are more victims.
The School District of Manatee County issued a statement on the incident on Wednesday, saying it's atypical for it to comment on matters being investigated by the State Attorney's Office.
"The highest priority of the School District of Manatee County is student safety. While we do not typically comment on matters which are currently being investigated by law enforcement or the State Attorney’s Office, the Bradenton Police Department has announced warrants for the arrest of an exceptional student education teacher and an aide for their conduct involving one of our students at Rogers Garden-Bullock Elementary. The details of this incident, as described in the Bradenton Police Department Press Release, are disturbing and reprehensible.
The District has been fully cooperating with law enforcement throughout this active investigation. All of our protocols have been followed, including the employees’ removal from the classroom immediately after the incident was reported and reassignment to other District locations where students are not present."
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Dalia Santana at dalia.santana@bradentonpd.com or the Bradenton Police Department at (941)-932-9300. You can also submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at manateecrimestoppers.com or call (866) 634-8477.