LONGWOOD, Fla. – A Lyman High School social studies teacher faces a child abuse charge after police say he put a student in a headlock and dragged him down a flight of stairs.
Longwood police said Wilbert DelaCruz, 38, was arrested Friday after a student accused DelaCruz of dragging him down "the stairs by my neck," according to the incident report.
A police officer said he observed red marks on the student's neck.
Police reviewed surveillance video of the incident that showed DelaCruz chasing the student and putting his right arm around the victim in a "headlock," then dragging him down the stairs, according to the report.
A Seminole County Schools spokesman said DelaCruz has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
DelaCruz was hired at Lyman High School in 2007. Before that, he worked as a substitute teacher in 2003 and was hired as a teacher at Oviedo High School in 2004. He also taught at Lake Howell High School.
DelaCruz has no previous discipline issues in his personnel file, the spokesman said.
DelaCruz was arrested on a charge of child abuse without great bodily harm. He was later released on bond.
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