BOSTON -- A Lawrence substitute teacher was suspended Wednesday after grabbing a first-grader by his shirt and pulling him down a hallway on Tuesday, police said.

Douglas Tracia, 48, was charged with assault and battery because there were scratches and lacerations on the boy's neck, police said. The incident was captured by a surveillance camera at the South Lawrence East School on Osgood Street.

The police chief said the incident began when one student threw a book and Luis Tejada, 7, threw it back. The teacher tried to mediate and Tejada said he didn't start the incident and bolted from the classroom, police said.

Luis' mother, Lina Tejada, said school authorities tried to talk her out of going to the police.

Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy said Tracia, who is also a lawyer, will not be returning to the school system.

"Our primary goal is to keep children in a safe and secure environment for learning," Laboy said in a statement.

Tracia's court date has not been set. Luis will likely be back in school by the end of the week.