A 34-year-old teacher was arrested after placing tape on a student's mouth. According to CBS News Miami, the shocking incident happened at First United Methodist Christian School in Homestead, Florida.
The teacher was named as 34-year-old Michael Siegmund Alvarez-Budow. He allegedly taped a student's mouth shut with green painter's tape. This came after what was described as a "classroom incident".
This classroom incident was described in an arrest affidavit. The incident apparently began when a number of students laughed whilst another student was reading a part of the Bible out loud. The victim, a 13-year-old boy, said that he was singled out by Alvarez-Budow.
He was then scolded, and ordered out into the hallway. The affadavit continued that the teacher followed the student into the hallway, and placed the painter's tape over his mouth, and bringing him back into the classroom.
"The sight of the victim with tape on his mouth caused a disruption as other students began laughing," the affidavit explained. The student later removed the tape and contacted his parents on his cell phone. The incident was also captured on the school's surveillance cameras.
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The Father Explained That the Tape Incident Left His Child "Confused"
When the outlet contacted the boy's father, he explained that his son was luckily feeling okay. However, he added that his son was mostly confused about what had happened, as well as upset about the ridicule he faced. The father contacted police but did not say whether he had hired an attorney or not.
The outlet contacted parents for comment. A grandparent of a student at the First United Methodist Christian School said, "This is a great school. I have never heard of anything like this happening. I have been coming to the school for eight years. This is very bad and very worrisome. I hope this never happens again."
Alvarez-Budow was since released from jail, pending battery charges. He was pictured leaving the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, covering his face and refusing to answer questions.
This is an absolutely shocking case. We hope that justice will be served appropriately.
