Exclusive: 13-year-old victim speaks out after Hackensack teacher's aide accused of assault

HACKENSACK, N.J. (WABC) -- A teacher's aide in Hackensack is under arrest and facing charges after authorities say he assaulted a student.

Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli announced the arrest of 60-year-old Jose Garrido, of North Bergen, on charges of endangering the welfare of a child and simple assault.

The incident reportedly happened on October 20 at YCS George Washington School on Hudson Street. The private school is for students with behavioral, emotional and social challenges. It serves students ages 5 to 14, grades K through 8.

According to the criminal complaint, it is alleged that Garrido pushed 13-year-old Junior Uribe into a desk, causing him to fall, and then slammed him to the floor and laid on top of him.

Uribe spoke exclusively with Eyewitness News reporter Toni Yates, saying it started when he and another student had some sort of disagreement, but that they left it alone. Then, he says Garrido approached him.

"He grabbed me by my arm, and he took me to a booth and said, "Do something so I can restrain you,'" he said. "When I was coming back out of the booth, he pushed me, and I hit myself with the corner of the table. Then I was on the floor and said, 'It hurts.' And he said, 'Get up. You're going to be OK.'"

Uribe said it didn't stop there, and that he tried to move his desk to sit more comfortable because he was in pain. Then, he says Garrido came at him again.

"He said put it back, and I said no," he said. "So then, he got me by the back of my arms, he took me to the middle of the room and threw himself forward with all his weight."

Uribe's mother said school officials called DYFS and that a week later, police went to the school and arrested Garrido.

"I was just crying," Junior Uribe said. "I asked him, 'Can I could go to the nurse?' He said wait. I asked one more time, he said no. I asked one more time, he said, 'Ask me one more time and watch how I'll restrain you again."

He was eventually taken to the nurse, who put ointment on his wounds and compressions on his swollen eyes.

He is back at school, while Garrido sits in jail on $20,000 bail.

The school did not respond to Eyewitness News' request for a comment.