Bradenton parent files Manatee lawsuit after police say teachers tied up her child
A parent is seeking $100,000 from the School District of Manatee County after police say three employees tied up her 7-year-old child during recess.
Takeila Jones and her attorney filed a lawsuit on Sept. 4 in response to a series of incidents that saw school employees allegedly restrain a non-verbal autistic student during recess at G.D. Rogers Garden-Bullock Elementary School using a nylon rope, according to court records.
In February, Exceptional Student Education teacher Carina Chindamo, 32, and teacher’s aides Taylor Internicola, 39, and Hydalmy Ortiz, 41, were arrested and charged with false imprisonment and battery after investigators say video footage showed the three wrapping a nylon rope around the leg of a chair attached to the student before taking turns sitting on the chair to keep the child from getting free.
The School District of Manatee County did not respond to the Bradenton Herald’s request for comment Thursday morning, but the agency previously confirmed that the teacher and two teachers’ aides involved in the incident no longer work for the school district.
Attorneys for Chindamo, Internicola and Ortiz did not immediately respond to the Bradenton Herald’s request for comment.
The lawsuit, which names the School Board of Manatee County and the three former employees as defendants, alleges that the school district “failed to provide an education setting that was safe, secure and free of harassment” and says it failed in its “duty to hire, train and supervise personnel to properly care for the school children of Manatee County.”
Mother files lawsuit against Manatee County school district
As a direct result of the School Board of Manatee County’s actions, Jones’ son “sustained bodily injuries and resulting pain and suffering, disability, mental anguish, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, medical care and treatment and emotional distress,” according to the lawsuit. The injuries suffered are alleged to be “either permanent or continuing in nature.”
Melton Little, Jones’ attorney, previously told the Bradenton Herald the 7-year-old was experiencing difficulties at home following the incident.
Detectives with the Bradenton Police Department say the Feb. 2 incident, which happened at recess, lasted for nearly an hour.
Police say their investigation led to the discovery of footage from three previous incidents involving the same student in January. In one of the instances, deputies say Ortiz pushed the boy while he was tied up, “causing him to fall on the ground.”
A ‘disturbing’ incident, local lawyer says
Little, an attorney representing Jones and her family, said the boy was physically ill after being restrained and was having trouble sleeping. In February he told the Bradenton Herald the boy had been unable to sleep in his own bed since the incident happened and was instead forced to sleep outside his mother’s room.
The family also said the boy was struggling in the morning and showing signs of post-traumatic stress since being restrained, causing her to have to arrange for her son to go to a different school.
In February, Little told the Bradenton Herald that he sent a letter to the school board informing them of their intention to seek monetary damages up to $200,000 but said he had not heard back.
Under Florida law, Little said the school district had 180 days to evaluate the claim and decide whether to pay. After the 180 days were up, Little said the family would decide whether to file a lawsuit based on the school board’s decision.
Little previously called the incident “disturbing.”
“Based on the facts alleged, what happened was a horrible, traumatic thing for the child,” Little said.
Chindamo, Internicola and Ortiz posted $10,000 bond in February and are next set to appear in a Manatee County courtroom for a hearing on Oct. 23, according to court records.
