Substitute teacher sat on student and duct taped her mouth shut, Indiana cops say

An employee at an Indiana school was arrested following the classroom punishment of a student, according to Indiana police and news reports.

The incident reportedly happened Aug. 30 at Anderson Intermediate School and led to the arrest of Stephanie Arteaga. She is charged with battery resulting in bodily injury to a person under 14, court records show.

Arteaga was employed as an interpreter at the school but was acting as a substitute teacher on the day of the incident, WTHR reported.

The student said Arteaga dragged her by her ponytail to the teacher’s chair, WISH-TV reported, citing court documents.

“When they got to the chair, Ms. Arteaga pulled her into the seat, placed duct tape on her mouth, and began to strike her with a ruler five times in the hand and two times in the face, while sitting on her legs,” according to the court records obtained by WISH.

The child was found to have a bruise on her hand authorities said was “consistent with being hit by a ruler,” WRTV reported.

The Herald Bulletin reported the victim was 11 years old.

Arteaga told the student she did not fear repercussions because she had previously done similar actions to another student and was not punished, according to WRTV.

In the previous incident, WTHR reported, Arteaga was placed on leave as the school district investigated the claims. She was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing.

When Arteaga was questioned by the school’s principal following the recent event, alcohol could be smelled on her breath, WXIN reported, citing court documents. Arteaga said she drinks an alcoholic beverage in the morning and another later in the day when students are not around, the publication said.

Arteaga admitted to the classroom incidents but argued they were done “in a playful manner,” according to WISH.

School officials said Arteaga had worked for the district since 2022 but resigned on the day of the incident, WXIN reported.

Anderson is about a 45-mile drive northeast from Indianapolis.

This story was originally published September 9, 2024 at 9:19 AM with the headline "Substitute teacher sat on student and duct taped her mouth shut, Indiana cops say."