Dec. 12, 2022 By Christian Murray
A 77-year-old substitute teacher was arrested Thursday for allegedly choking a student at a College Point middle school, police said.
Vernon Jerom allegedly grabbed the neck of a student at College Point Collaborative and was arrested at around 2:10 p.m. The school is located at 14th Avenue and 124th Street.
The 77-year-old has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child and criminal obstruction of breathing.
“These allegations are very disturbing, and this substitute teacher was immediately pulled from service,” a Department of Education spokesman said in a statement.
The child, whose grade level was not disclosed, was not injured in the attack, police said.