A longtime South Florida teacher is facing child abuse charges months after allegedly throwing a shoe that struck a student in the face, according to police.
Sandra Marta Colombo, 61, was arrested Wednesday in Homestead, about 40 miles south of Miami, on a charge of child abuse without great bodily harm. The incident happened on February 28 at The Charter School at Waterstone, a kindergarten through fifth-grade school.
According to an arrest report obtained by Local 10 News, Colombo attempted to throw a shoe at a “misbehaving” student but instead hit another child. Witnesses told police she tossed the shoe — described as “like a sandal” — overhand to get someone’s attention. One witness said it struck the victim in the ear, while another said it hit her in the face.
In a forensic interview, the victim said the shoe hit her on the forehead but caused no marks or bruises. She told investigators that Colombo apologized afterward and rubbed her forehead.
Colombo invoked her right to an attorney after being taken into custody, police said.
She appeared in bond court Thursday, where her defense attorney noted she had taught at the school for 30 years but has since been fired, NBC Miami reported. It was not immediately clear what grade she taught.
A judge ordered Colombo to stay away from the student and released her without bond.
