A former Florida elementary school teacher has been arrested after police accused him of showing inappropriate material to students and touching several girls inappropriately.
Cesar Oriol Cardoso, 53, worked at Sunset Park Elementary School in Miami-Dade County before being arrested by the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department.
According to police, Cardoso allegedly pulled girls out of physical education and other classes before showing them inappropriate images and videos.
Investigators said some of the material included photos of nude women as well as an image showing a young boy with a woman.
Other students reportedly told authorities they saw images that appeared to show Cardoso himself.
Police also accused Cardoso of touching or slapping several girls on their thighs or buttocks while making inappropriate comments.
In one alleged incident, Cardoso placed his hand over his crotch and asked a girl if she wanted to “squish it,” according to the arrest report.
Authorities also said he expressed a desire to kiss two of the girls.
Detectives interviewed Cardoso on Friday, but police said he invoked his right to remain silent.
He was charged with three felony offenses, including offenses against students by authority figures, showing obscene material to a minor and lewd and lascivious conduct involving a child under 16.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools condemned the allegations in a statement.
“Behavior of this nature will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” a district spokesperson said.
School officials said Cardoso was removed from the school on the next business day after administrators learned about the allegations.
As of Monday, Cardoso was being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
The arrest has left some parents demanding answers and urging families to speak openly with their children.
“I think it’s atrocious,” parent Adrian Marin said. “I think we need to do a better job and have people better vetted.”
Marin also encouraged parents to talk with their children about recognizing inappropriate behavior and speaking up when something feels wrong.
“Talk to your little ones, your children to help them to discern what is right and what is wrong in person — and to talk and speak up,” he said.
