Fired Southwest ISD teacher arrested, accused of hitting 5-year-old autistic child

Incident captured on camera

SAN ANTONIO – A Southwest Independent School District teacher who was fired after video showed her hitting an autistic child with a computer tablet has been arrested.

The KSAT Defenders first reported on the incident last month.

Related: Defender's Debrief: Ex-Special Ed teacher indicted

Rosemary Diaz, 63, was picked up by Bexar County sheriff deputies Monday night after a grand jury indicted her.

She has been charged with two counts of injury to a child.

Indictments released by the District Clerk's office Tuesday show Diaz is charged for two separate attacks on the same student.

RELATED: Southwest ISD teacher fired, accused of striking autistic child in classroom

Diaz was placed on administrative leave and later fired from her job at Indian Creek Elementary School.

The first incident, involving the tablet, allegedly occurred on Feb. 1 and was captured on a surveillance camera in her classroom.

Diaz is also accused of striking the child with her hand and pushing him Feb. 2.

"I'm shocked and hurt. I put my trust in other people to make sure my son receives the best possible care," said Cassandra Gomez, the student's mother said last month.

The district showed Gomez video of one of the incidents, but refused to publicly release it.

State records show Diaz has been certified in special education for 17 years.

Rosemary Diaz, former Southwest ISD teacher, arrested on 2 felony counts of injury to a child. Accused of striking autistic child in class. pic.twitter.com/uJZTtikG3Z

— Courtney Friedman (@cfriedmanTV) April 11, 2017

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