Williamsburg Teacher Charged With Assaulting Young Student: Cops

WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN — A Williamsburg elementary school gym teacher has been charged with assault for allegedly throwing a 7-year-old boy to the ground, police said.

Matthew Demma, a 52-year-old P.E. teacher at Public School 16, grabbed a young student by his shirt and threw him to the ground, police said. The child suffered injuries to his back, neck and legs.

Demma was charged on Friday with assault, harassment and endangering the welfare of a child, police sources said. All were misdemeanors except harassment, which was a violation.

Demma was arrested on March 10 and given a desk appearance ticket to return on May 12, police said.

The harassment allegedly occurred on Jan. 13 and was reported by the boy's parent on Jan. 27, cops said.

"This is concerning behavior, and Mr. Demma was disciplined. He has been removed from the school pending the resolution of his criminal case," said a spokesperson for the Department of Education.

Demma has been reassigned pending the resolution of the criminal case, according to sources at the DOE.

A request for comment from the Brooklyn District Attorney's office wasn't immediately returned as the office was closed due to the snowstorm.

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