Southwest Miami-Dade teacher arrested by school police for misconduct

SOUTHWEST OF MIAMI-DADE, Fla. – A social studies professor at a southwestern Miami-Dade high school is accused of having a romantic relationship with a student, which has led to his arrest and dismissal by the school district.

The Miami-Dade Schools Police Department arrested Rafael Birriel, 39, a teacher at Coral Reef High School after an investigation into misconduct involving a student.

The school district said Birriel had no other problems in his 13 years of work in Miami-Dade public schools.

The indictment was filed against Birriel last March when the victim told police that for a period of one year she was related to the teacher and that she “became physical on one occasion.” The age of detention does not identify the age of the victim.

The victim told police that most of the conversations he had with the teacher were through the messaging app, Discord.

Police were able to obtain copies of the chats in which the two participated. Through the messages, Birriel had tried to convince the girl to send him erotic, nude and cracked photos. A conversation also recounted an encounter at school in which Birriel kissed the student and grabbed her buttocks over her clothes after he kissed her.

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Throughout the year, police said Birriel told the girl that he loved her, as well as her sexual attraction and his intentions towards her.

The school district sent Local 10 News a statement about the allegations.

“It’s a serious issue that is not taken lightly. As soon as the allegations were reported, the employee was removed from the school and M-DSPD initiated an investigation. As a result of the arrest, the individual’s work will be terminated and he will be prevented from seeking future employment with the district. “

Birriel was arrested Monday and out of jail. He is awaiting trial, where he faces 2 felonies for crimes against a student by a figure of authority and for prohibited use of the computer.