A Brooklyn paraprofessional has been arrested after investigators say he picked up and dropped a 10-year-old boy on the ground inside a Brownsville public school on Feb. 5, leaving the child with bruises and a minor lip injury. The arrest was announced Thursday following an NYPD review of the classroom incident and has sparked concern among parents and local officials.
The episode reportedly unfolded inside the school building at 51 Christopher Ave. in Brownsville, the home of Christopher Avenue Community School. That same building also houses multiple small campuses, including a Uncommon Schools location, according to the district safety plan from Uncommon Schools.
Arrest and charges
Police arrested 41-year-old paraprofessional Demitrius Williams after an investigation by the NYPD’s Brooklyn Child Abuse Squad and charged him with endangering the welfare of a child and attempted assault, as reported by the New York Post. According to the Post, the Department of Education condemned the alleged conduct, said the staffer was immediately suspended, and noted he could face termination if the allegations are substantiated. Authorities said the boy suffered bruises and a minor lip injury and that Williams has an arraignment pending in Brooklyn Criminal Court.
Department response and oversight
City watchdogs and advocates point to a system in which serious personnel allegations are handled on dual tracks, with both Department of Education discipline and criminal investigations in play. The Office of the Special Commissioner of Investigation, which reviews misconduct by DOE employees, has previously detailed how such inquiries are processed and resolved in its public reports from the Special Commissioner of Investigation.
What happens next
Williams faces an upcoming arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court, where prosecutors will determine whether additional filings are warranted. Officials say the matter remains under investigation, and parents and community members in Brownsville are watching closely for what comes out next.
