Kindergarten Teacher Accused of Child Abuse

A teacher at Summerville Montessori School of the Arts has been accused of child abuse, according to a Dorchester County Sheriff's Office incident report. 

Patch has withheld the teacher's name pending charges — which remain unfiled, according to Dorchester County courts system. The school's owner and director Elizabeth Cane told Live 5 News the teacher was placed on administrative leave without pay pending the outcome of the investigation.

According to the incident report, the teacher had allegedly locked 4-year-old students in a dark bathroom, forcing them to sit on the floor. She also allegedly duct-taped students' mouths if they were disruptive on more than one occasion, and forced a child to swallow food by tilting her head back. One student also claimed she was struck by the teacher.

Live 5 News reported deputies executed a search warrant at the Mayrant Street school Tuesday night.