HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – A Florida teacher and vice principal were arrested after a video showed a student being put in a chokehold earlier this year, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
In a news release, deputies said the incident happened on Jan. 18 at Progress Village Middle School.
At the time, a teacher, Bennie Leverett, 39, was recorded on video putting the student in a chokehold, restricting the student’s ability to breathe before Leverett let him go, the release shows.
“He isn’t responding to me,” the teacher can be heard saying in the video.
“He can’t! He’s dying! You’re killing him!” another person can be heard shouting.
Afterward, the school’s vice principal, Tashiska Fabian, 41, met with Leverett and the student, although Fabian didn’t report what happened to either the child abuse hotline or law enforcement, detectives explained.
In addition, Fabian learned that a student had recorded the incident, so she told the student to delete the video, investigators added.
However, the HCSO eventually became aware of the incident and after an investigation, Leverett was arrested on March 14, the release states. He faces a charge of child abuse.
According to deputies, Fabian was arrested on Wednesday. She faces a charge of failing to report child abuse and is held on a bond of $2,500.
“It is deeply troubling that a teacher would harm a student, but even more so when a person in a position of authority fails to do the right thing and report the crime. This is a complete betrayal of trust within our community,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “I’m proud of the witness who stepped up and did the right thing by reporting the incident, ensuring law enforcement could step in and bring justice for the victim.”
No additional information was provided, including details about what might have prompted the incident.
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