A Bronx teacher with a history of using corporal punishment has been arrested for allegedly slapping a 12-year-old student in the face, authorities say.
Fatai Okunola, 50, was taken into custody Thursday and charged with assault.
Officials say Okunola taught at Intermediate School 219-New Venture School in Claremont, but they say they aren’t sure what subject he taught or which class of his the female student he allegedly slapped attended. She wasn't injured.
Students told News 4 Friday "Mr. O" is well known and is a well-liked science teacher. It's not clear why he allegedly slapped the girl, but officials say it appeared to be some sort of disciplinary action. He was issued a desk appearance ticket and released. It wasn't clear if he had retained an attorney.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education says Okunola was reassigned away from students pending the "resolution of this criminal matter.
"These troubling alleged actions are completely unacceptable," the spokesperson said.
It's not the first time Okunola has been in trouble. He faced discipline for corporal punishment in 2014 and was reprimanded by his supervisor. Eight years before that, he was suspended without pay for making inappropriate comments to students and failing to perform his proctoring duties.
Okunola started teaching in the city as a substitute in 1998.
