WA teacher accused of grabbing teen by throat

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle police say a high school teacher accused of grabbing a disruptive 17-year-old student by the throat and slapping him has been arrested.

Seattle Public Schools said the male teacher has been placed on administrative leave. The district declined to identify the man, who has been at South Lake High School, an alternative school, for 15 years.

Police spokeswoman Renee Witt says the victim and another student apparently were being disruptive in class Wednesday and refused to complete an assignment. Witt says the teacher yelled at them, then grabbed one student by the throat and slapped him in the head.

KOMO-TV reports the teen was treated at a hospital and released. KING-TV reports the teacher was taken to a police precinct and later released.

Student Kenya Spears witnessed the incident and tells KOMO, “He’s a good teacher. He shouldn’t be fired or anything.”

In a letter to parents, South Lake Principal Barbara Moore called the action “inexcusable.”