Plastic Bag 'Play' Lands Teacher in Jail

A 19-year-old summer program teacher faces child abuse charges after Hillsborough County deputies say she put a plastic grocery bag over a child’s head.

According to the sheriff’s office, the incident happened Wednesday at Cypress Creek Elementary School. A 10-year-old boy told deputies his summer program teacher “intentionally chased after him and placed a plastic grocery bag over his head,” an email from the agency stated. The child, deputies said, was unable to breathe for about 30 seconds and had to rip a hole into the bag to be able to breathe.

“The victim fell to the ground while the defendant was still holding the bag around the victim’s neck,” the email said.

When deputies confronted the teacher, she explained “they were playing around,” deputies noted. She also apologized, the email said.

Erica Berrios was charged with one count of felony child abuse. She was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail and later released in lieu of $2,000 bond.

Booking photo courtesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office