A Los Angeles area school teacher was arrested last Friday (Nov. 2) for getting into a physical altercation with a 14-year-old student. The incident was captured on video, and has since then gone viral. According to the Los Angeles Times, the incident started when 64-year-old Marston Riley, a music teacher, told the unidentified student to exit the classroom at Maywood Academy High School for not wearing the proper uniform.
The student then responded by cursing at Riley, and throwing a basketball at him. He also reportedly called him the n-word. After Riley repeatedly told him numerous times to exit the room, as seen on video things escalated into a full blown fist fight.
The student was taken to the hospital for his injuries, and Riley was taken into custody at the East Los Angeles Sheriff’s station. He was released on Saturday after posting $50,000 bail, according to inmate records. Authorities say he’s going to be arraigned on Nov. 30.
“We take this matter very seriously and do not condone violence or intolerance of any kind,” the Los Angeles Unified School District said in statement. “Los Angeles Unified is cooperating with law enforcement in investigating this incident.”
While some parents were reportedly outraged that Riley hit the student, others staunchly support him because they feel kids need to learn to respect their elders. Cecilia Diaz Jimenez, a local Maywood resident, started a GoFundMe page under Riley’s name, which now has reportedly raised more than $90,000, reports NBC News.
Maywood Academy also released a statement stating, “Many Americans saw for the first time the deterioration of respect for teachers… We have created an environment where disrespect, bullying and intolerance can thrive.”
Riley is currently placed on home detention, which means he is suspended with pay until further notice. The story is still developing.
READ MORE: High School Teacher Charged With Child Abuse After Punching Student