Connecticut elementary teacher arrested after using chokeholds on students, police say

A teacher at a Connecticut elementary school has been arrested after police say a fifth-grade student lost consciousness when the teacher demonstrated a chokehold maneuver.

Stefanie Sanabria, 50, was working as a math coach at Brookside Elementary School when Norwalk Public Schools officials say she performed a martial arts move on three students.

Sanabria was hired with the school district on Aug. 24, 2021 and resigned on Friday,.Emily Morgan, a spokesperson for the school system told USA TODAY on Wednesday.

Sanabria was later arrested and charged with second-degree strangulation, first-degree reckless endangerment and risk of injury to a minor, Norwalk police said.

Man politely robs Utah bank for $1: Man robs bank for a buck, sits down and waits to be arrested, police say

4-alarm residential fire: 1 dead, at least 41 injured including 35 firefighters in New York apartment building fire

A student fainted

On Feb. 24, Norwalk Public Schools notified the Norwalk Police Department of an incident at Brookside Elementary School, the district wrote in a statement released to USA TODAY.

"With the assistance of the Norwalk Police Department, we determined that a teacher was demonstrating defensive holds to students, and a student fainted during that demonstration," the statement read. "Fortunately, the student did not sustain any permanent injury."

"The safety of our students is our first concern, and we immediately investigated the situation involving Ms. Sanabria when it occurred."

Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Norwalk math teacher arrested, accused of using chokehold on students