MANCHESTER — A 24-year-old man accused of slamming a 13-year-old boy to the ground and choking him during a pickup basketball game has been charged with assault.

David Washington faces one felony count of second-degree assault and two misdemeanor charges from the incident that took place at the Elmwood Gardens housing projects on Aug. 5.

Both police and the boy's family say Washington was playing basketball with 13-year-old Darius Peterson and another boy when they started exchanging slaps to the back of the neck, calling them “beef necks.”

Police say the game went from roughhousing to something more serious when Washington became angry at Peterson and picked up the boy, threw him to the ground and then began punching him and wrapping his hands around his throat. Investigators concluded his actions were criminal, and Washington was arrested Wednesday.

A message left for Washington at his home address was not returned Thursday.

James Santiago, who is engaged to Peterson's mother and considers the boy to be his own son, said the family was relieved to hear of the arrest.

“I feel like my son finally got some justice,” Santiago said.

Washington is scheduled for arraignment on Aug. 30.

Santiago said Peterson is recovering from his injuries, although he has had to take sleeping medication at night because of severe headaches.

“The doctors kept stressing we were lucky because they weren't a lot more serious,” Santiago said.

Santiago said the boy is about 5-feet, 3-inches tall and weighs 105 pounds. Police list Washington as 5 feet 9 inches, weighing 180 pounds.

Police interviewed the boy last week, and investigators found there was enough evidence to support the felony charge and the two misdemeanors, issuing an arrest warrant that was executed Wednesday.

Santiago said he was initially frustrated when officers who arrived at the scene did not arrest Washington immediately. Police conducted interviews and followed the family to the hospital, where the boy was examined and treated for his injuries, which included a fat lip, scratches and a contusion to his head.

Santiago said there was a neighborhood block party two days later, and Manchester Police Chief David Mara attended.

“We spoke to the chief and let him know what happened. He said it was not being swept under the rug or anything and was being looked at very seriously,” Santiago said.

Santiago acknowledged that his anger about the severe injuries to the boy he has helped raise for about 10 years contributed to the frustration he felt and growing concerns that there would be no legal action taken.

“My son's not perfect. I'm not going to make it sound like he is,” Santiago said. “But he's not one of those kids that gets in trouble.”

Santiago said the boy's never been involved with police. “No violence in school or anything like that.”

Santiago said Washington tells children in the neighborhood that he played for the Manchester Wolves, the former arenafootball2 team. The Union Leader could find no records supporting the claim Washington had ever been involved with the team, which folded along with the rest of the indoor football league in 2009.

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Doug Alden may be reached at dalden@unionleader.com.