LA County Teacher Investigated For Putting Student In Choke Hold

LYNWOOD, CA — Authorities are investigating an alleged incident of "physical abuse" by a teacher at Lynwood High School.

The sheriff's department said the incident occurred at 9 a.m. Oct. 10 in a classroom at the school and involved a 53-year-old man who works as a teacher and a 15-year-old boy who's a student.

The teacher, whose name was not released, has been placed on administrative leave, according to the sheriff's department, which reported the investigation is "still in the preliminary stages."

"The sheriff's department is in possession of a video of the incident, but we are requesting any additional video footage be provided to Special Victims Bureau," the sheriff's statement says.

KTLA5 broadcast video, apparently taken by a student that day, showing a teacher restraining a student who apparently had been involved in an argument with a classmate. The video showed the pair standing up in a classroom, with the man's arm around the teen's neck.

The Lynwood Unified School District released a statement saying it is cooperating in the investigation with police and "does not condone physical violence in any form and takes this matter very seriously."

Anyone with information on the case was asked to call sheriff's Lt. Richard Ruiz of the Special Victims Bureau at 562-946-7919.

City News Service