MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - A 6-year-old elementary school student was handcuffed and arrested Friday after she allegedly threw a tantrum in class.
CBS affiliate WMAZ reports that according to the police report, the girl tore items off the walls and threw furniture. The report also says the girl knocked over a shelf that injured the school principal.
The girl was crying in the principal's office at Creekside Elementary before police arrived. When the officer tried to calm the child, she resisted and was handcuffed.
"Our policy is that any detainee transported to our station in a patrol vehicle is to be handcuffed in the back. There is no age discrimination on that rule," said Milledgeville Chief of Police Dray Swicord.
Police took the young girl to the police station where she was charged with simple assault and damage to property. As she is only 6-years-old, she will not have to go to court.
The girl was also suspended until August. Though all charges have been dropped, Salecia -- a 6-year-old -- now has an arrest record.
Salecia's mom, Constance, says that "Salecia has been traumatized by this experience. She's afraid to return to school and recently woke up in the middle of the night saying 'they are coming to get me.'" Constance wants to make sure that this incident won't affect Salecia's future, and she wants answers about why police officers were involved in the first place.
Constance believes that what happened to Salecia is part of a larger problem. Schools across America are adopting "zero-tolerance" policies that are making police involvement in school disciplinary matters more and more common, according to the Advancement Project, a group working with Constance's family.
Posted By: Siebra Muhammad
Monday, April 23rd 2012 at 12:17PM
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