Elementary teacher arrested and charged with choking student at DC school, police say

WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - An elementary teacher was arrested and charged after being accused of choking a student inside of a D.C. school.

Police say 50-year-old Jarvis Bernard Massenburg, of Bowie, Maryland, was arrested Thursday and charged with second-degree child cruelty.

Officials say the Barnard Elementary School teacher is accused of physically assaulting a student on the afternoon of January 17. Police say Massenburg was seen on surveillance video choking the student.

Massenburg is a fourth-grade English and language arts teacher at the school. School officials say he will remain on leave during the investigation. Parents with concerns can contact the school's principal, Dr. Grace Reid, at 202-576-1100.