Athens teacher charged with aggravated assault for allegedly using chokehold on student

By Joe Johnson

An Athens middle school teacher has been arrested for an alleged assault in which he placed a 13-year-old boy in a chokehold

According to a police report, the alleged incident happened Nov. 30 at W.R. Coile Middle School where Brockton Carl Tatum "choked" the boy when breaking up a fight between him and another student.

A school resource officer indicated in the report that the alleged victim had no visible injuries, and the boy's grandmother wanted to press charges.

The incident reportedly had been witnessed by another teacher.

After an investigation, detectives obtained an arrest warrant against Tatum that charged him with aggravated assault.

Tatum surrendered himself Friday morning at the county jail and he was released that afternoon upon posting a $2,400 bond.