Criciúma teacher detained for assaulting 4-year-old child

A 56‑year‑old teacher at the Centro de Educação Infantil (CEI) Natureza in Criciúma, Santa Catarina, was arrested after a witness reported she stepped on a 4‑year‑old boy’s foot twice. The teacher initially claimed the act was accidental, but later told police she deliberately stepped on the child to correct him. Police detained the teacher, and the child was taken for a forensic examination, which showed no visible injuries. The teacher was charged with child abuse, held in custody, and later released at a custody hearing. The childcare operator, Associação Feminina de Assistência Social (Afasc), dismissed the teacher for just cause and offered support to the child and family. The investigation includes witness testimony and CCTV footage.