NYC teacher choked, dragged 5-year-old across class in rage as boy cried ‘I can’t breathe’: prosecutors

A Manhattan teacher accused of strangling a 5-year-old student dragged the boy across a classroom in a rage as the terrified kid pleaded “I can’t breathe,” according to prosecutors.

Special education teacher Anthony Wicks, 46, was ordered to stay away from the boy at his Manhattan Criminal Court arraignment Tuesday night after appearing in front of a judge on assault and acting in a manner injurious to a child charges for the brazen attack at PS 153 Adam Clayon Powell Jr. Elementary School in Hamilton Heights Monday afternoon.

In a fit of rage, Wicks allegedly grabbed the boy’s neck with both hands and dragged “the child across the room while the child was in the headlock,” according to a criminal complaint.

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The shocking attack happened in front of another teacher who heard the boy plead “I can’t breathe” while Wicks continued choking him, prosecutors said.

CBS New York reported the choking happened after the boy refused to go in a time-out corner.

“He was making a fuss about going in the time-out … and then the teacher choked him,” the boy’s older brother told the station.

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“That teacher wasn’t the one who was even talking to him … What other people have told me is that when he was getting choked, he was crying and then wouldn’t calm down,” the brother added.

The boy’s dad said the attack was a “very scary moment” for his son, who was later sent to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.

“He said that … his teacher’s hands were tight around his neck and that he said that he would be good and that he asked the teacher to let go,” he told the channel.

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Wicks, meanwhile, was “immediately removed” from the school after the altercation, according to a Department of Education spokesperson.

“Pending the outcome of the arrest and if convicted, we will pursue their termination. There is nothing more important than the safety and well-being of our students,” the DOE added.

Wicks was granted supervised release at his arraignment, and his next court date is scheduled for Oct. 23.

He hung up on a Post reporter when reached on the phone Wednesday afternoon.

Additional reporting by Aneeta Bhole

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