A New York City special education teacher, Anthony Wicks, 46, was arrested for allegedly putting a 5-year-old student in a chokehold. Wicks faces charges of second-degree assault and acting in a manner injurious to a child after reportedly grabbing the boy’s neck and placing him in a headlock at P.S. 153 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Elementary School.
The child’s father said his son described the teacher’s hands tightly gripping his neck, and pleaded to be let go. Wicks was released under supervision after his arraignment, where the judge ordered no contact with the child. This is Wicks’ first arrest, and he has worked for the city’s education department for five years.
The incident allegedly began when the boy resisted going into the “time-out corner.” Another teacher had instructed him to go, but Wicks intervened, leading to the confrontation. The boy’s family was notified by the principal, but another parent expressed outrage after learning of the incident through social media, not the school.
The Department of Education condemned the behavior, immediately removing Wicks and pledging to pursue termination if convicted.
