Florida teacher arrested after video shows him throwing student from class, deputies say

ORLANDO, Fla. — A Flagler County teacher was arrested Wednesday after picking a 14-year-old student up and throwing him out of the classroom, deputies said.

Jeffrey Paffumi, 47, of Palm Coast, was taken to Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and faces a charge of battery, according to Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.

He was being held without bond.

Authorities say Paffumi grabbed the student and lifted him out of the chair, a video of the incident shows.

This is cell phone video of @FlaglerSchools teacher from Buddy Taylor middle, allegedly manhandling 14yo, carrying student out of classroom Tuesday, shoving him. Teacher Jeffrey Paffumi charged w battery, placed on leave. More on @WESH tonight pic.twitter.com/gEiUnCpkXH

— claire metz (@clairemetzwesh) January 9, 2020

Paffumi then hooked the student’s left arm, lifted him off his feet and carried him across the classroom before throwing him out and pushing him down the hall, according to FCSO.

When Flagler Schools learned of the incident, officials removed Paffumi from the classroom and placed him on leave.

Details and video of an altercation between Palm Coast school teacher Jeffrey “Rocco” Paffumi, 47, and a 14-year-old student, emerge.
Paffumi was charged with a misdemeanor count of battery. https://t.co/axIlAKf4H1

— Florida Times-Union (@jaxdotcom) January 9, 2020

“The actions of this teacher are not consistent with how we expect our educators to act and behave and it will not be tolerated,” said Flagler Schools Superintendent James Tager. “I have stressed to my executive team the importance of handling this investigation with the utmost seriousness it deserves.”

Paffumi was previously arrested in 2012 on a charge of criminal mischief, and again that year on a charge of battery for a physical disturbance, FCSO records show.