SUMMIT TWP — An 18-year-old student was arrested Saturday after he allegedly punched a staff member at the Summit Academy reform school, authorities said.

The suspect, David Dickerson of Philadelphia, is being held in the Butler County Prison on a felony assault charge.

State police were called shortly after 4 p.m. to the school where they spoke to the victim, Shawn Cunningham, who had several cuts and bruising on his face and behind his left ear.

Cunningham told police that he sustained the injuries during a confrontation with Dickerson in the school cafeteria, according to court documents.

The teen began acting in an “aggressive behavior” after stepping out of line at the cafeteria and tried to walk away, a police affidavit said. He initially ignored the victim, who tried to get Dickerson back in line.

The suspect is accused of pushing Cunningham and then punching him twice in the area of the left ear.

When the staff member tried to stop Dickerson, the teen continued his alleged attack. He punched Cunningham “numerous times,” the affidavit said, and hit the victim in the head and face with elbows.

District Judge Sue Haggerty arraigned the suspect on a felony charge of aggravated assault, a misdemeanor charge of simple assault and a summary charge of harassment.

Dickerson was placed in the Butler County Prison on $10,000 bail.

During his arraignment, the teenager told Haggerty that he was previously arrested on drug charges and has been a student at Summit Academy for eight months.

He also acknowledged that he is a father-to-be.

Charging documents noted that Philadelphia District Court sentenced Dickerson to Summit Academy.