Arkansas police officer put on leave for appearing to put student in chokehold

An Arkansas police officer was placed on leave after a video showed him grasping a high school student in a chokehold.

Officer Jake Perry of Camden, Ark., was placed on leave. He allegedly put the student in a hold that caused the student to black out, according to an NBC report.

In the video, the officer can be seen behind ninth-grade student Dekyrion Ellis from Camden Fairview High School. 

The officer grasps Ellis around the head from behind, and appears to lift him off the ground in the video. 

Perry was assigned to the school as a school resource officer, according to NBC. Ellis told KTVE that he had been arguing with a friend when the officer intervened. 

“I feared for my life,” Ellis said. “I didn’t know what was going to happen. I blacked out. I didn’t see anything until he took me back to the office.”

Ellis has been examined and X-rayed for injuries but said he is okay despite some pain and scratches on his arm.

Local police Chief Boyd M. Woody said police are investigating the situation while the officer remains on leave.