An employee at Summit Academy in Summit Township has been charged in connection with an April incident in which he is accused of putting a student in a chokehold.

Russell E. Karns, 30, of Butler, has been charged with strangulation, simple assault and harassment by subjecting another to physical contact.

According to a police affidavit, the incident occurred on April 11. The student, who was interviewed by the Children's Advocacy Center of Centre County on May 20, said he was dared by Karns to flick a rubber band he was playing with.

The student said he did flick the rubber band, which ended up striking Karns. As a result, Karns allegedly put the student into a chokehold, during which the student says he felt like he was going to pass out.

In an interview with state police in June, Karns corroborated the story of putting the student in the headlock, and also stated that the rubber band struck him in the eye. He also reported suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Summit Academy provided police with photographs of the student taken after the incident, along with a report which stated, “ … staff member Russell Karns used an inappropriate technique in an effort to stop the situation from escalating.”

Police became aware of the situation after multiple ChildLine referrals in late April.

Karns’ preliminary hearing and arraignment are scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 9:45 a.m. in front of District Judge Lewis Stoughton.