COCOA, Fla. — A Brevard County teacher is now on administrative leave after the release of new body cam video of a massive Cocoa Beach house party.
What You Need To Know
- A Brevard County teacher was suspended after body cam video surfaced of a Cocoa Beach house party
- Karly Anderson, newly hired at Saturn Elementary, and a principal were initially charged with child neglect and contributing to the delinquency of minors
- Charges were downgraded, allowing Anderson to start teaching, but the release of the video prompted her immediate removal
Karly Anderson had just started a new teaching job at Saturn Elementary School on Monday before her removal.
School system leaders say they were given the video Tuesday by the State Attorney’s Office — which wasn’t available until April 14.
The Cocoa Beach Police body cam video shows the interaction between officers and Anderson when they arrived at the house party where police say some 200 minors were drinking and intoxicated.
“You know I’m a teacher. Who the f--- did you put in that car? (Officer: it’s a kid, but they can’t disclose…) I was here hanging out at this party. What’s wrong with them? You guys gotta act better. (Officer: do you want the truth? There was like 200 kids here drinking) I know. (Officer: and you’re drinking and drunk as well) I’m not drunk. (Officer: yes you are, I smell it) Oh, you smell it,” Anderson said on camera.
Police say Anderson, along with Roosevelt Elementary principal Elizabeth Hill-Brodigan, were arrested and charged with child neglect and contributing to the delinquency of minors.
School district officials say those charges were downgraded from felonies to second degree misdemeanors by the State Attorney’s Office on April 1, making Anderson eligible to return to the classroom, per state statute and district policy.
“Once the body cam footage came out yesterday, we realized that for the first time we had evidence that we would be able to go back and investigate and pull the person from the classroom,” said Brevard School Board District 4 member Matt Susin.
Brevard Schools Superintendent Mark Rendell said he believes the teacher’s actions seen in the footage were completely unacceptable, do not match the charges given and warrant a further investigation.
Part of the district’s investigation will be whether Anderson was actually inside the party at any point, and if she came between officers and an intoxicated child found on the front lawn officials say was having an alcohol-related episode.