Arkansas Teacher Charged After Allegedly Choking Student Who Called Him ‘Bruh’ During Classroom Dispute

A teacher at Wonder Junior High School in West Memphis, Arkansas, has been charged with aggravated assault after he allegedly choked a student who called him "bruh."

On April 15, West Memphis Police Department officers were called to Wonder Junior High School after the principal reported "an incident" brought to their attention by the student.

When officers arrived, authorities reviewed surveillance footage and later launched an investigation into the incident.

According to a police report cited by WREG, when a student called Tracey Matthews "bruh," while saying he did not have a computer, Matthews replied, "I’m not your bruh. I’m your sir."

The encounter became physical after the student said, "My bad, lil bruh," prompting the 56-year-old to grabbed him by his shirt and push him against a desk.

The police report further stated when the student walked out of the classroom, Matthews allegedly grabbed him by his neck, pushed him against the wall and then choked him causing him difficulty breathing.

"This remains an ongoing investigation," the department said in a statement at the time. "Any further questions regarding school disciplinary actions or student matters should be directed to the West Memphis School District."

Meanwhile, the school issued a statement following the teacher's arrest.

"The West Memphis School District is aware of an isolated incident at Wonder Jr. High School. The safety and well-being of our students and staff is the district’s top priority. We appreciate our partnership with the West Memphis Police Department which contributes to the safety of all district schools. Being a law enforcement matter, the district has no further comment."

According to Crittenden County Jail records, Tracey Matthews was booked into jail at around 1 p.m. and later released on bond at about 3 p.m.

Although it is unknown whether Mathews was fired from his teaching job, his name does not appear on the school’s staff page.

"They’re not supposed to just put their hands on the kids like that because they call them a ‘bruh.’ He is a ‘bruh.'" He shouldn’t have never put his hands on a student like that, and he’s a teacher, too. What kind of discipline is there for the rest of the community, you know? Anger should be left at home and not in the school, not in the workplace," resident James Barber told WREG.

A similar incident occurred in Nevada in April 2026, when a substitute teacher was accused of "making inappropriate, threatening comments to students and placing his hands around two students’ necks while shaking them."

The substitute teacher, identified as James Palu, 40, of Fernley, was later arrested and booked in Lyon County Jail for Felony Child Abuse or Neglect (1st) and is being held on a $20,000 bail.

According to a press release, Palu told deputies that he was "conducting his introduction to the class and described himself as a big teddy bear. He then warned the students, if they misbehaved, he would “Ring their chicken necks”.

"Palu stated he did not touch the students but may have demonstrated on himself. This was directly contrary to the statements made by the witnesses on scene. When pressed on the matter, Palu became evasive and the interview ended," the press release added.