Florida Teacher Hospitalized After Alleged Attack by 5-Year-Old Student

A community in Florida is in shock after a veteran special education teacher was hospitalized following an alleged attack by a 5-year-old student.

Per People, Pembroke Pines Police were called to Pines Lakes Elementary School last Wednesday just before noon after educator Trisha Meadows was allegedly attacked.

According to the police report, the incident began “when two students in the classroom, 4 and 5 years old, began throwing things around the classroom and at the teachers, along with flipping the chairs.”

While faculty members separated the students, Meadows reportedly took the 5-year-old to a nearby “cool down” room. However, moments later, she radioed staff members for support.

Anna Fusco, president of the Broward Teachers Union, alleged to WSVN, “[The student] actually ran and attacked and jumped on her with his whole body weight. She fell and hit her head, which caused the severe injury and other bodily injuries where she is going to need surgery.”

The report says Meadows somehow “made her way out of the room on her own strength.”

When an officer arrived at the scene, he found the teacher “sitting on the ground against the wall” and “in a faint state.” The cop had to “hold her up as she was clearly weak and dazed” and later “laid her on her side and held her head up straight to maintain an open airflow and prevent possible choking” after she began coughing and dry heaving.

After Meadows lost consciousness, Fox 13 Tampa Bay reports that she was rushed to a local hospital and had to be intubated.

Pembroke Pines Police Department PIO Amanda Conwell later told People via email that Meadows has since been released from the hospital.

“No arrests have been made, and no charges have been filed with the State Attorney’s Office at this time,” Conwell wrote.

Though the child will not be charged, the report lists two criminal charges: aggravated assault with hands, fist, and feet, and aggravated battery to cause bodily harm or disability.

“If we were to proceed with charges, those would be what we’d present to the [State Attorney’s Office],” Conwell said.

In a statement from Broward County Public Schools, “the situation was investigated by Pembroke Pines Police and handled in accordance with District protocols.”

Per People, Fusco — who described the school environment as “unsafe” — says the student has allegedly injured Meadows in the past.

“This should never have happened. Our school district knew about the level of violence this student possessed but the sense of urgency wasn’t there from school’s leadership or our district’s leadership,” Fusco was quoted as saying via People.

“Something has to be done so that he cannot cause this kind of damage to other students or to her again,” she added.