Longtime Poinciana H.S. teacher accused of domestic battery

POINCIANA, Fla. — A longtime Poinciana High School teacher has been arrested on domestic violence charges, Channel 9 has learned.
 
Thomas Vacek, who has taught art class in Poinciana since 1984, is accused of beating his wife so badly that she then tried to kill herself by taking pills.
 
Thomas Vacek was arrested late Wednesday night for allegedly severely beating his wife.
 
"The female victim indicated he was battering her throughout the day and she tried to harm herself," said Twis Lizasuain, with the Osceola County Sheriff's Office.
 
Arrest reports indicate that Vacek used his open hands and closed fists to hit his wife while he was drunk at their home.
 
According to the report, she became so upset she took pills.
 
Deputies said that is when Vacek drove her to Osceola Regional Medical Center for help.
 
"And they weren't able to get all the photographs they needed for evidence because of her severe injuries," said Lizasuain.
 
According to investigators, while at the hospital a deputy asked Vacek if he had anything to do with the marks on his wife's face. Investigators said Vacek stared at the deputy for several seconds and then asked him to repeat the question.
 
In 2012 Vacek's wife was arrested on child abuse charges for allegedly burning a 12-year-old boy with a lighter while he was at the couple's Kissimmee home.
 
Vacek was arrested for not reporting the incident.
 
The state attorney'soffice later dropped the charges, saying the allegation couldn't be proven.
 
In 2005 some female students accused Vacek of rubbing his groin on them. A jury found him not guilty.
 
Channel 9's Ryan Hughes has been told that Vacek's wife remains in the hospital.
 
Vacek is being held on a $2,500 bond.

WFTV