A teacher has been arrested for allegedly abusing a 2-year-old girl at Lincoln-Marti School in southwest Miami-Dade.
The crime allegedly happened at around 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 9, when 21-year-old Merlin Gutierrez "grabbed, shook, dragged and repeatedly slapped the little girl throughout her head and body," according to an arrest report.
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WATCH HEREThe violence at the campus at 22165 Southwest 112th Avenue was caught on surveillance video, police said.
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Gutierrez turned herself into police two days later and refused to provide a statement, authorities said.
She was charged with child abuse without great bodily harm and her bond was set at $5,000. She is in custody at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
In a statement, Lincoln-Martí Schools and Childcare Centers said: "Lincoln-Marti is wholly committed to the safety of every child in our care. The director of Lincoln-Marti’s childcare center witnessed an incident on the center's camera system and immediately removed the teacher from the classroom. Lincoln-Marti contacted the Florida Abuse Hotline to report the incident, and Lincoln-Marti has cooperated fully with authorities and with the child’s parents. As this is an open investigation, no further comment is appropriate."
