WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Polk County Sheriff's Office detectives arrested a substitute teacher accused of grabbing a 12-year-old boy around the neck and pushing him against a wall.
Robert Knight, 39, of Bartow is charged negligent child abuse without bodily harm.
"We expect much better conduct from a substitute school teacher," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd in a statement. "We compliment the school district staff who worked hand-in-hand with us to hold Mr. Knight accountable for his conduct."
Detectives arrested Knight on Thursday.
Knight is employed by Kelly Educational Staffing, and worked as a substitute physical education teacher at Westwood Middle School.
"We hold substitute teachers to the same high standards as our full-time teachers," said Polk County Schools Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd. "Our educators must be patient and caring every day they step into the classroom.
"There is no excuse for any person working in our schools to treat a child this way."
The sheriff's office said Knight told deputies he "lost his cool" and that he "came to" with other kids pulling him off the boy.
Sheriff's deputies took Knight to the Polk County Jail.
►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the 10News app now.
Have a news tip? Email desk@wtsp.com, or visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.
