Utterly Alarming': Video Captures Teacher, Student Brawl In Classroom

A California teacher has been suspended after engaging in a classroom brawl with a student at Santa Monica High School Friday.

Video of the incident shows science teacher and wrestling coach Mark Black wrestling with an unidentified student. Eventually, he is able to pin him to the ground.

The brawl broke out after the student was caught selling drugs, students told KTLA. Another said that the student was the first to strike the teacher.

Nevertheless, superintendent Sandra Lyon says wrestling coach Mark Black's actions were not acceptable.

“I can tell you that what I witnessed on one of those videos is utterly alarming,” she wrote in a letter sent home to parents, noting she will "gather all the facts and make sure the proper actions are taken."

Image source: KTLA

“Until the investigation is complete, we will not have all the details that led up to this incident; nevertheless, based on the what I have viewed, the kind of physical restraint used by the teacher is unacceptable,” the letter added.

Reaction to the fight appeared mixed, with some individuals telling KTLA-TV they understood the actions of the teacher, while others said Black went to far.

“As a parent I understand the frustration of the teacher…but I don’t believe he handled it the right way,” parent Skipp Townsend said.

The investigation is still ongoing.

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