Shocking Video Released In Alleged Teacher Abuse Case
DAVIE (CBS4) - Broward County prosecutors released surveillance video Monday showing a teacher at alternative school accused of abusing a 12-year-old autistic boy.
Investigators say the video shows David Baier punishing the child for misbehaving on a field trip. While the pair -- and another student are in the school -- Baier begins scolding the child for being fidgety and not staying still in his seat. On the video, Baier is heard telling the boy to "Get up." Seconds later after the boy gets out of his chair, Baier tells the boy, "You lost the chair. Get up. you gotta stand."
Baier tells the child, "If you can stand for 5 minutes without annoying me I'll give you back the chair."
The boy is seen on video crouching down and Baier older him to "Stand up now." The boy replies, "I don't wanna." Baier is heard laughing and saying, "Good. I was hoping you'd say that. Now, stand up and face me or I'm gonna have to do something worse. Do you understand?"
On the video Baier is seen pulling the boy up by his hair.
A short time later, police say Baier and the child continued talking about the child's poor behavior on the day's field trip, when the boy put his shoe in Baier's face. On the video, Baier gets upset and tells the boy, "I was gonna say if you do that again, I'm going to slam you but…" The boy is heard saying, "No no no no" and cowering in fear.
Baier is seen tossing the child onto the ground headfirst. The child quickly sits back down and starts crying.
We spoke to the child's mother last year. She told us her son complained about his head hurting and told her that David Baier is the person who hurt him.
"The thought of somebody doing this to my son and hurting him and putting him through that and not caring," Wendy said.
The incident occurred at the Alternative Education Foundation (AEF) school at 4650 SW 61st Avenue in Davie.
Baier faces charges in this case and at least one other. He is out of jail on bond.
CBS4's Carey Codd wanted to speak with David Baier tonight but a woman who answered the door at his Davie home told us they would not comment and that we needed to speak with his lawyer. CBS4 News tried, but was unable to make contact with his attorney.
