5th Grade Teacher Arrested For Endangering Student: Yonkers Police

YONKERS, NY — An investigation into a bizarre incident at a Yonkers school has led to criminal charges against a teacher.

The Yonkers Police Department, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, and Yonkers Public Schools are investigating the accusations of criminal behavior by the Yonkers Public School teacher.

A student told investigators that 50-year-old William Archacki, a Yonkers Public Schools teacher, caused the student to fear for their safety by walking up behind the student while holding a paring knife during school hours on Feb. 8.

Archacki is a resident of Buchanan, and was a 5th grade teacher at Public School #21 at the time of this incident. He was placed on modified duty one day after the incident, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Yonkers detectives arrested Archacki on Thursday, and he was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. He was later arraigned in Yonkers Criminal Court and released on his own recognizance, awaiting future court appearances.

The case is being prosecuted by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. Police said no information will be released regarding the identities of students or other minors involved in the incident.