In Coconut Creek, Florida, a science teacher at Monarch High School has been accused of child abuse and appeared in court. The 64-year-old teacher, Christopher Cagle, was arrested by the Coconut Creek Police and charged with child abuse without great bodily harm. He has been teaching science at the school since 2016 and has been with the district since 2005.
A student referred to the teacher as “Cagle Bagel” as he walked past him, which led to a confrontation in which the teacher allegedly grabbed the student’s hand, twisted his arm behind his back, pulled him by the ear and hair, and pushed him against a table in the classroom. The student claimed to have hit his head on the table and felt dizzy, prompting a call to Coconut Creek Fire Rescue for medical assistance.
Although there were no eyewitnesses to the incident, surveillance video footage indicated a physical altercation between Cagle and the student. As a result, the teacher has been reassigned away from the school and students pending the outcome of the case. In bond court, Cagle was given a $5,000 bond and ordered not to have any contact with the victim.
Broward County Public Schools released a statement expressing their commitment to student safety and collaboration with law enforcement on the matter. They assured that the school’s leadership is working with the District’s Special Investigative Unit and Coconut Creek Police to address the situation.
