Police Investigating Sexual Abuse Allegation against Head Start Teacher at Holy Redeemer Church, Archdiocese of Miami Says

NBC South Florida
November 22, 2013

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Police-Investigating-Sexual-Abuse-Allegation-Against-Head-Start-Teacher-at-Holy-Redeemer-Church-Archdiocese-of-Miami-Says-232934641.html

[with video]

Miami-Dade Police are investigating an allegation of sexual abuse against a Head Start teacher at Holy Redeemer Church in northwest Miami-Dade, the Archdiocese of Miami said Thursday.

Archdiocese administrators learned of the allegation involving a teacher at Catholic Charities’ Head Start Early Childhood Development Center, which is located at the church at 1301 Northwest 71st St., on Thursday.

When Catholic Charities’ administrators learned of the allegation, they reported it to the Department of Children and Families, Archdiocese of Miami spokeswoman Mary Ross Agosta said in a statement. Administrators are also fully cooperating with the police investigation, she said.

Police interviewed a teacher, who was cooperative, and she has since been released, Miami-Dade Police spokesman Det. Roy Rutland said.

Police continue to investigate, he said.

The teacher has been employed at the Head Start center since 1999 and has complied with and successfully passed FBI and Florida Department of Law Enforcement background checks, according to Ross Agosta. That includes annual background check updates, she said.