A criminal investigation is underway following an altercation between a student and a Baltimore school police officer.
A video, filmed by a friend of the boy recently surfaced and brought attention to the officer slapping the teen three times and kicking him once. The other officer just stood and watched.
Since the incident took place Tuesday afternoon Baltimore City Public Schools Police Chief Marshall Goodwin and both officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation; which is being conducted by the school’s police, the Baltimore State’s Attorney’s office, and the Baltimore Police Department.
Why was the Police chief also placed on leave? According to the brief explanation from school officials, it’s a “personal matter.”
So here’s what happened:
The two officers responded to REACH Partnership School to Two potential threatening intruders inside the facility. Upon arrival, the police determined that the young men were not students. On the other hand, one of the boy’s lawyers, Lauren Geisser, said he in fact does attend the school. She also said he received medical attention for injuries to his ribs and face following his altercation.
As far as the school’s response to the incident goes, the boy, his parents, and Geisser went to the school to speak with the principal, James Gresham, only to be told after a long wait that Gresham was in a meeting and unable to meet with them. They did however ask for a copy of the student roster only to have it confirmed that the boy was a student there.
According to Acting Chief of School Police, Akil Hamm, no arrests have been made yet and the school system is taking the altercation “extremely seriously.” Schools spokeswoman Edie House Foster said that school officials are “vigorously” investigating the case.
“This type of behavior is not indicative of our schools police officers,” the district’s chief schools support officer, Karl Perry said. “This is unacceptable. It’s not behavior that will ever be tolerated by any city employee…Anytime there is a law enforcement officer with that level of authority that seems to be abusing that authority, it impacts all of us across the country,” she said. “It certainly is not helpful as we work to build bridges of trust to see that level of mistreatment.”
Our prayers go out to the boy and his family during their battle.
Source: Baltimore Sun, http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/education/blog/bs-md-ci-school-slapping-video-20160301-story.html
