Teacher, seen on video hitting student, arrested in California

LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles-area teacher was arrested on suspicion of punching a 14-year-old student who used a racial epithet and threw a basketball at him in a classroom, authorities said.

Marston Riley, 64, was taken into custody on suspicion of child abuse after the fight recorded on cellphone video Friday during a music class at Maywood Academy High School, the Los Angeles Times reported. It wasn’t known Sunday if Riley has an attorney.

The confrontation began after the teacher asked the teen to leave because he wasn’t wearing a proper uniform, the newspaper said.

Video shows the boy using the N-word and cursing at the teacher, who is black.

“What’s up, bro?” the student says as he stands close and hurls the basketball.

The teacher calmly tells the teen to leave and then suddenly starts punching. The man strikes the boy in the face and the two trade blows as students scream.

The student was treated at a hospital for moderate injuries and released, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Los Angeles Unified School District officials said they’re cooperating with the sheriff’s investigation.

“We take this matter very seriously and do not condone violence or intolerance of any kind,” a district statement said.

Riley was released Saturday after posting $50,000 bail, according to sheriff’s inmate records. He could not be reached for comment. Arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 30.

Crisis counselors and additional school police patrols will be at Maywood Academy High on Monday, the district said.

Maywood is a small city with about 27,000 residents just southeast of downtown Los Angeles.