A mom and daughter allegedly ‘knocked out’ a Long Island middle school math teacher because she had “put her hands on” the daughter.
Police reported that 34 year old Annika Mckenzie had attacked teacher Catherine Englehardt, with her 12 year old daughter, on April 15th at Alverta B. Gray Schultz Middle School in Hempstead.
Mckenzie had confronted Englehardt in front of her classroom and shoved her against a wall and placed her in a headlock throwing, her to the floor. The incident can be seen on the school’s surveillance videos.
Witness Elias Mestizo told Newsday that Englehardt was knocked unconscious and was “on the floor for a couple of minutes.”
Once on the floor several students continued to punch and kick her, including McKenzie’s daughter.
Chief of Hempstead Police, Michael McGowan, reported to Newsday, “A juvenile female, relative of the adult, began to punch the teacher in the head.
She was taken to the Winthrop University Hospital as soon as the incident had occurred and released after receiving treatment.
“She’s taught in the middle school for over 20 years. She’s very passionate and committed about her job. I was talking to parents today and all spoke highly of her,” said fellow teacher Mestizo to Daily News.
Mestizo also reported that Mckenzie’s daughter had called her mom from school and shortly after she had shown up on school grounds.
McKenzie was arrested and taken to Nassau County’s First District Court April 16th where she had been charged with second-degree assault and strangulation. Her bail was set at $5,000.
The daughter will be charged as a minor as well as other teens who participated in the assault.
“Its not like I thought a parent would do something, but I knew something violent was going to happen,” Engelhardt spoke to WABC Channel 7 News, “I’ve warned them time and again that the children have no respect for adults. Yes, I fear for my safety. They can’t control the kids.
Teacher Mestizo said the problem started with security.
“Security did not ask for credentials, did not ask where she was going. She walked right by them. We have teachers saying for more than a year there’s a systemic problem with security of district buildings. Teachers don’t feel safe. Students don’t feel safe.”
Image Via ABC 7
