PALM COAST, Fla. – A Flagler County middle school employee is facing a child abuse charge after deputies said she struck a student with disabilities.
The Florida Department of Children and Families first notified the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office about the incident on Sept. 25.
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The sheriff’s office released camera footage from Indian Trails Middle School showing 69-year-old Cheryl Andrews of Palm Coast walking behind the student seated in the school cafeteria and then striking him.
According to a news release, the student is then seen rubbing the back of his head and pointing at Andrews. Andrews immediately walks back to the student, aggressively shoving his head, then pulls his head backward towards her chest while placing another hand around his face.
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Officials said the student is non-verbal and according to a witness, Andrews is “very aggressive towards all the students” and her actions against the victim were unprovoked.
Andrews also admitted that she struck the child unprovoked and told detectives she “didn’t know why she did that,” while also acknowledging that she was aware the victim was a student with disabilities.
Deputies arrested Andrews on Thursday for child abuse without great bodily harm. She was later released on bond.
On Friday, Andrews made her first appearance before a judge where she was ordered to have no contact with anyone under the age of 18.
According to a statement from the Flagler County Public School District, Andrews is on paid administrative leave pending further investigation.
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