TITUSVILLE, Fla., March 9 (UPI) -- A former group leader of a Florida elementary school's after-class program was arrested for allegedly taping a child to a chair, authorities said.
Russell Evan Rochon, 21, was arrested at his Mims, Fla., home Tuesday and held without bond on a charge of aggravated child abuse, Florida Today reported.
Police allege Rochon tied a misbehaving 5-year-old boy to a chair by wrapping packing tape around him then held him upside down, saying he would not let go until the child stopped crying.
When a teacher at South Lake Elementary in Titusville approached he quickly undid the tape, an arrest report by police Detective Jessica Edens said.
In addition "it was reported that when another student placed the child in a large trash can, the defendant continued to push him down to prevent him from getting out," Edens wrote.
Rochon resigned as a school-district employee last week.
The school district said Rochon was in the process of being terminated for performance issues, but resigned before the process was completed.
"We did not learn about the alleged incident until after Mr. Rochon resigned," Brevard Public Schools spokeswoman Christine Davis said. "Once it was brought to our attention, the school immediately reported the incident to the appropriate authorities, who then conducted the investigation."
