Police: Teacher put student in headlock, dragged him to seat

Delaware State Police have arrested a contracted teacher who worked at The New Castle School and charged him with allegedly putting a 13-year-old student in a headlock.

Mark Murdock, 41, was assigned to monitor the school’s in-school suspension room on Jan. 26. He got into a verbal confrontation with a male student around 12:30 p.m., allegedly over comments made days earlier.

The argument escalated when Murdock told the boy not to touch a trash can that was in the center of the room. The student walked up and touched the trash can.

Murdock responded by putting the boy in a headlock, police said. When he was able to escape, Murdock again allegedly put him in a headlock and dragged him back to his seat.

The student was treated at the school nurse’s office for minor injuries to the neck and face.

Murdock was charged yesterday with offensive touching. He was arraigned and released on a $100 bond.