(The Lion) — A teacher and coach in Florida has been arrested for allegedly grabbing the neck of a female student and making inappropriate sexual comments.

Fred Anderson, 50, was taken into custody Monday by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office after he grabbed the girl by the neck during class and said, “You’re lucky we aren’t alone. I’d kiss you if we weren’t in a [classroom],” ABC 20 TV reported. Other students reportedly witnessed the incident.

Anderson allegedly told the underage girl previously he “wished he could bring her home,” and asked if she had cameras, ABC 20 reported.

Anderson, who denied making inappropriate comments, admitted that he put his hand on her but told law enforcement it was done “jokingly and playfully,” Fox 35 Orlando reported.

The Lake Weir High School math teacher and girls flag football coach is being held in county jail on a charge of simple battery. No bond had been set as of Tuesday morning.

The Marion school district, which is based in Ocala, told Fox that Anderson was hired in 2020 and had faced no previous disciplinary actions.

Zach Moore, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office, called the incident “very serious because it’s a teacher in position of authority and there should be trust and respect for students…It’s our most precious resource in this county and for someone to take advantage of that and to threaten this juvenile’s safety is unacceptable.”