Police Investigating Possible Child Abuse Between Principal, Student

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A moment of fun turns ugly at a Baltimore City high school. Sources say the principal at Reginald F. Lewis High School made a big mistake.

Tracey Leong explains what happened.

Students say it's because Principal Daric Jackson accidentally got a little rough with one of the kids, causing him to black out.

Police are investigating a possible case of child abuse that happened at the Reginald F. Lewis High School in early April.

Investigators are looking into a report that claims a staff member assaulted a 17-year-old on campus.

A letter sent home with students from school officials says Principal Daric Jackson will be away from school for an indefinite period of time, but not giving a reason why.

Students say Principal Jackson was known to horse around, and say he was play-fighting the day of the alleged assault and that the student blacked out after being put in a choke hold by Jackson.

"He was a good principal. He cared about our education. We could go to him for basically anything. That's what I feel like," said one student.

Sources say it was an accident, and the principal never intended for it to get to that level.

Police say the student was not injured, and other kids say the 17-year-old has not returned to school since the incident.

Detectives are working with the State's Attorney's Office during the investigation.