Footage from a classroom at Progress Village Middle School in Florida captured a startling incident where a teacher, Bennie Leverett, was seen placing a student in a chokehold while other students pleaded for him to stop.
Leverett was arrested and charged with child abuse following the incident, which occurred on January 18 and was filmed by another student. The video begins with Leverett allegedly restraining the student in a headlock as the teenager attempts to free himself. It’s unclear what initiated the altercation.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the footage shows other students initially laughing, but the seriousness of the situation quickly became apparent. A student is heard shouting, “Dude, help your boy,” as the struggle intensified.
At one point, the student and Leverett fell to the floor, with Leverett reportedly saying the student “didn’t respond to me,” as other students screamed, “He can’t” and “he’s dying, you’re killing him.”
Eventually, the student managed to push the teacher away and briefly stand, only for the two to clash again, leading them to fall into a door. The video later cuts to Leverett still holding the student in a chokehold while they moved into another room. The student involved was reportedly 14 years old.
An investigation by the sheriff’s office revealed that Leverett’s chokehold “restricted the student’s ability to breathe,” according to WTSP.
Leverett was removed from duty in February, and he was arrested in March on a child abuse charge. Meanwhile, assistant principal Tashiska Fabian was arrested for allegedly instructing the student to delete the video and failing to report the incident to law enforcement.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister expressed strong criticism of both employees, calling Leverett’s behavior “deeply troubling” and accusing Fabian of “failing to do the right thing.” He praised the student who reported the incident, saying, “This is a complete betrayal of trust within our community.”
Leverett has been charged with felony child abuse and posted a $5,000 bond, pleading not guilty. Fabian is facing a charge of failing to report child abuse and was released after posting a $2,500 bond.
