Teacher placed 6-year-old child in headlock, carried child into school, affidavit says

GREELEY, Colo. — An elementary school teacher placed a 6-year-old student in a headlock and carried that child into the school while the child kicked the teacher in an effort to make him let go, an arrest affidavit says.

Joshua David Wainscott, 40, was arrested on Sept. 12. He was booked into the Weld County jail on charges of second-degree assault–strangulation, which is a felony. He also faces a misdemeanor child abuse charge.

He’s a library media teacher at Maplewood Elementary School, 1201 21 Ave., in the Greeley-Evans School District 6.

According to Greeley Police, a school resource officer was notified of the assault that occurred Aug. 30. District administrators and security also notified the police, who opened a criminal investigation.

According to the arrest affidavit from Greeley Police, officers were sent to the school after someone reported that a teacher grabbed a student by his neck and placed him in a headlock.

On Sept. 1, an officer watched a video that showed students lining up outside the school. According to the affidavit, the video shows a man grabbing one of the students and picking him up with his arm around his neck. The man is seen holding the child in that position while carrying him from outside to inside the building, the document says. 

The man was later identified as Wainscott.

An officer met with the child and his mother on Sept. 11. The victim told the officer that Wainscott picked him up and put him in a headlock while they were walking. He told the officer that he tried to kick Wainscott so he would let him go but said he did not let go and his grip became tighter. The child said it became difficult to breathe, the affidavit says.

When contacted by an officer on Sept. 12, Wainscott declined to make a statement about the incident.

According to a letter sent to parents on Friday, Wainscott was placed on administrative leave on Sept. 3. He remains on administrative leave and has been employed with the district since Aug. 4, 2008.

“The safety and security of our students and staff is always our top priority. We take these allegations very seriously and deeply regret any emotional or physical harm to a child under our care, ” the district’s letter says. “To protect the child in this case, we will not be providing any details of the incident or any information that could interfere with the police investigation or prosecution.”

Anyone with information about the incident who has not already spoken with officers should contact the school resource officer at 970-350-9605.