A hotheaded Arkansas teacher was arrested for allegedly choking a student who called him “bruh” multiple times in a caught-on-camera classroom attack.
Tracey Matthews, a 56-year-old teacher at Wonder Junior High School in West Memphis, was slapped with aggravated assault on April 15 after he went berserk on a student who used the slang phrase when asked if he had a computer, according to the West Memphis Police Department, WREG reported.
Police said tensions boiled over when the student told the fiery educator, “Bruh, I don’t have a computer.”
Matthews snapped, “I’m not your bruh, I’m your sir,” only for the pupil to fire back, “My bad, lil bruh,” prompting the teacher to allegedly grab the victim by his shirt and slam him against a desk.
The student then stormed out of the classroom, with the short-tempered teacher following behind before grabbing the youngster by the neck, shoving him against a wall and choking him, police said.
The victim reported the alarming incident to the principal, who reviewed the surveillance footage and quickly alerted authorities.
The West Memphis School District called the disturbing attack an “isolated” incident in a statement, though it remains unclear if the volatile educator is still employed, the outlet reported.
However, his name is not listed on the school’s staffing page.
“They’re not supposed to just put their hands on the kids like that because they call them bruh, he is a bruh,” outraged resident James Barber told the outlet, stressing he wants Matthews to pay the price.
“He shouldn’t have never put his hands on a student like that, and he’s a teacher, too. Anger should be left at home and not in the school, not in the workplace.”
Matthews was reportedly freed on bond shortly after being booked at Crittenden County Jail.
The explosive assault remains under investigation.