12-year-old NYC students allegedly punched, groped in separate assaults by teachers
Two New York City school teachers were arrested Thursday for allegedly assaulting young students in separate incidents at schools in Manhattan and the Bronx.
Cops first arrested educator Brian Thomas, 33, after he allegedly punched a 12-year-old boy inside PS 161 in Manhattanville just after 12:30 p.m., according to police.
The boy was taken to a local hospital but was not seriously injured. It’s unclear what led Thomas to clobber the young student.
He was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and harassment.
The second teacher was arrested for sexual misconduct after he allegedly touched a 12-year-old female student’s chest, according to sources.
Mohamed Baksh, 70, was taken into police custody at 1:40 p.m. on charges of sexual misconduct, forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child, police said.
It’s unclear what school Baksh taught at. The location of his arrest, at 1619 Boston Road near Crotona Park in the Bronx, has multiple schools within one campus.
However, due to the student’s age, the assault likely happened at JHS 98 Herman Ridder because the other three schools at the address are high schools.