PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A teacher at a Portland charter school resigned Thursday night after he was accused of inappropriately restraining a 13-year-old student. 

Frank O’Brien, a 5th grade teacher at Portland Village School, apologized for his behavior and publicly resigned during a heated board meeting with parents and staff. 

“I find that absolutely appalling and completely absurd that this person still has their job and we have to have this meeting right now,” parent Benny Hass said during the meeting, which was called for O’Brien to appeal being placed on administrative leave.

O’Brien is accused of using force to restrain a black student on March 22. Joleen Hall Lopez said O’Brien pushed her nephew against a wall and dragged him up the stairs by his neck.

“He has been affected mentally,” Lopez said. “It’s out of his control, he has PTSD from it.”

The boy’s parent have filed a police report and Portland police confirmed they are investigating an incident at the school. 

O’Brien defended his actions in the meeting.

“My actions were in response to your son’s actions,” he said, but ultimately resigned.

“I’m apologizing for my behavior and im publicly resigning,” O’Brien said. 

Parents said the board’s failure to inform parents of the incident and O’Brien’s actions point to a larger problem with how students of color are treated. 

“Not all schools are this impaired when it comes to racial equity and this needs to change,” parent Emily Clayton said. 

The school is providing a tutor for the boy because he has not returned to school since the incident.

The board admitted they acted too slowly in addressing the issue and said they’re committed to finding ways to improve, including listening sessions and hiring a consultant to address racial equality.

The principal told KOIN 6 News he knows they have a lot of work to do with families of all backgrounds and cultures to gain the community’s trust.