Bayshore Elementary School teacher charged with child abuse

MANATEE -- A Bayshore Elementary School teacher was charged with child abuse without causing great bodily harm in an incident with a family relative on Thanksgiving Day, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

Zaneta M. Dotts, 42, was arrested at 2:42 p.m. Thursday in Bradenton, the sheriff's office said. Bayshore Elementary is listed as Dotts' employer on the arrest report, and "Zaneta Dotts" is listed as an emotional behavioral disabilities teacher on Bayshore Elementary School's website.

A call to Manatee County School District spokesman Mike Barber was not immediately returned.

At 1:45 p.m. Thursday, the male victim said Dotts got into a verbal argument about a cell phone and grabbed him by the neck and face and scratched his neck and face. Deputies said the victim suffered minor scratches to his neck and face.

Dotts was charged with child abuse without causing great bodily harm and was released Friday from Manatee County jail on $500 bond, according to the sheriff's office website.

This story was originally published November 30, 2015 at 8:16 PM with the headline "Bayshore Elementary School teacher charged with child abuse ."