Re: School calls police on my 9 year old AS child !

[Guest guest]

Hi, I recently joined this group and have been reading the many school

difficulties that parents have been having across the country. I am a single

Mom of an Aspergers, Tourette's Syndrome 9 1/2 year old boy. He is in Shelby

Twp, Utica Community Schools in an upper level EI classroom as the district does

not have any high functioning AS classes. It has difficult from the beginning.

They have little to no knowledge of the disorder and I have spent more fighting

with the district than helping my son in a positive manner to meet his

educational needs. The school has been constantly threatening to call the

police on my child for " hitting " and " making threats " . Many of his " threats "

are word for word from " cartoons " . Yesterday, the principal called the police

on my son for making a " threat " . When I arrived at school, I first saw a class

aide and she stated that my son was doing good in the classroom doing his work.

I next entered the principal's office where him, the social worker and police

office were. I stated " this is rediculous " . I would not allow the officer to

talk to my son as she has little to no knowledge of autism and the school's

tactics were uncalled for. In short, I was upset and attempted to walk away

from the principal's office to " cool off " and the police officer grabbed me,

threw me on the ground, handcuffed me in front of the office staff and students.

I could not breath. I am 5 feet tall and weigh about 99 lbs. I was screaming

for help. I had done nothing wrong. I tried to roll sideways so I could breath

and then the office jabbed her knee into my back, put the handcuffs in a

straight position and jabbed her knee forcefully into the cuffs, cutting my

wrists. I was thrown in the police car, taken to Shelby Police Dept and

arrested for trespassing. In addition, I sustained additional agressive

behavior at the station, but not in front of the cameras by another police

officer. All I could do was cry. It has been a road of hell trying to advocate

for my son and all I was trying to do was protect my son. I was not agressive

in any way to the police, and did not deserve this attack. In addition my son

is now suspended until January 5, 2004. I need help! I have left a message

with Michigan Protection and Advocacy. How can my son go back to a school and I

be pleasant with the office staff that watched this brutal attack by the police

officer on me and did not help. I spent many hours in the ER last night. I am

okay, just very sore and severely bruised. There is so much more to tell but

this is a summary to get started. I appreciate any advice and support.

Thank you, Jeannine in Shelby Twp, Michigan (Utica Community Schools)

[Guest guest]

How can you be arrested for trespassing? Didn't they tell you to come

to the school? I have no clue how to go about fighting the police

charge or excessive aggression. I think you need a lawyer ASAP.

As for the school I'd be glad he was suspended. I'd NEVER send him

back. Police officers have been known to kill people w/ disabilities

due to them being seen as a threat. I'd have zero trust in both the

police and school at this point. I can NOT believe this even

happened.

I think I'd file a civil suit against the school for calling in the

police. I'd probably file a State Complaint at the same time.

More importantly I think your money might best be spent on private

schooling while you fight the school. I'd be terrified to send him

back.

a

> Hi, I recently joined this group and have been reading the many

school difficulties that parents have been having across the

country. I am a single Mom of an Aspergers, Tourette's Syndrome 9

1/2 year old boy. He is in Shelby Twp, Utica Community Schools in an

upper level EI classroom as the district does not have any high

functioning AS classes. It has difficult from the beginning. They

have little to no knowledge of the disorder and I have spent more

fighting with the district than helping my son in a positive manner

to meet his educational needs. The school has been constantly

threatening to call the police on my child for " hitting " and " making

threats " . Many of his " threats " are word for word from " cartoons " .

Yesterday, the principal called the police on my son for making

a " threat " . When I arrived at school, I first saw a class aide and

she stated that my son was doing good in the classroom doing his

work. I next entered the principal's office where him, the social

worker and police office were. I stated " this is rediculous " . I

would not allow the officer to talk to my son as she has little to no

knowledge of autism and the school's tactics were uncalled for. In

short, I was upset and attempted to walk away from the principal's

office to " cool off " and the police officer grabbed me, threw me on

the ground, handcuffed me in front of the office staff and students.

I could not breath. I am 5 feet tall and weigh about 99 lbs. I was

screaming for help. I had done nothing wrong. I tried to roll

sideways so I could breath and then the office jabbed her knee into

my back, put the handcuffs in a straight position and jabbed her knee

forcefully into the cuffs, cutting my wrists. I was thrown in the

police car, taken to Shelby Police Dept and arrested for

trespassing. In addition, I sustained additional agressive behavior

at the station, but not in front of the cameras by another police

officer. All I could do was cry. It has been a road of hell trying

to advocate for my son and all I was trying to do was protect my

son. I was not agressive in any way to the police, and did not

deserve this attack. In addition my son is now suspended until

January 5, 2004. I need help! I have left a message with Michigan

Protection and Advocacy. How can my son go back to a school and I be

pleasant with the office staff that watched this brutal attack by the

police officer on me and did not help. I spent many hours in the ER

last night. I am okay, just very sore and severely bruised. There

is so much more to tell but this is a summary to get started. I

appreciate any advice and support. Thank you, Jeannine in

Shelby Twp, Michigan (Utica Community Schools)

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Jeannine,

You definitely should consult a lawyer. This sounds like it violates

special ed and civil rights laws.

[Guest guest]

Oh my God!!!

OH MY GOD!!! Sorry to use the Lord's name in vain, but that is just

SHOCKING!!

That's one of the worst things I have read. Jeannine, you need to

get yourself a good lawyer TODAY. Don't wait for the Advocacy office

to call you. Call around. A lawyer might represent you pro bono.

Call the newspaper and get it reported on the news. Some lawyer

might come forward. Go to a doctor and have your injuries reported

and assessed. Call the Americans with Disabilities Council.

-- When they removed you from the premises did they read you your

Miranda rights? If not, they violated the law.

-- When they cuffed you did they tell you what your charges were? If

not, they violated the law.

Statements should be taken from the school staff by an official

representative. Jeannine, I hope you sue the sh** out of these

people! They caused physical and emotional injury to you and

emotional battery to your disabled son. I have never heard of such a

thing in my life. Oh your poor son. And poor you. Get Justice!

> Hi, I recently joined this group and have been reading the many

school difficulties that parents have been having across the

country. I am a single Mom of an Aspergers, Tourette's Syndrome 9

1/2 year old boy. He is in Shelby Twp, Utica Community Schools in an

upper level EI classroom as the district does not have any high

functioning AS classes. It has difficult from the beginning. They

have little to no knowledge of the disorder and I have spent more

fighting with the district than helping my son in a positive manner

to meet his educational needs. The school has been constantly

threatening to call the police on my child for " hitting " and " making

threats " . Many of his " threats " are word for word from " cartoons " .

Yesterday, the principal called the police on my son for making

a " threat " . When I arrived at school, I first saw a class aide and

she stated that my son was doing good in the classroom doing his

work. I next entered the principal's office where him, the social

worker and police office were. I stated " this is rediculous " . I

would not allow the officer to talk to my son as she has little to no

knowledge of autism and the school's tactics were uncalled for. In

short, I was upset and attempted to walk away from the principal's

office to " cool off " and the police officer grabbed me, threw me on

the ground, handcuffed me in front of the office staff and students.

I could not breath. I am 5 feet tall and weigh about 99 lbs. I was

screaming for help. I had done nothing wrong. I tried to roll

sideways so I could breath and then the office jabbed her knee into

my back, put the handcuffs in a straight position and jabbed her knee

forcefully into the cuffs, cutting my wrists. I was thrown in the

police car, taken to Shelby Police Dept and arrested for

trespassing. In addition, I sustained additional agressive behavior

at the station, but not in front of the cameras by another police

officer. All I could do was cry. It has been a road of hell trying

to advocate for my son and all I was trying to do was protect my

son. I was not agressive in any way to the police, and did not

deserve this attack. In addition my son is now suspended until

January 5, 2004. I need help! I have left a message with Michigan

Protection and Advocacy. How can my son go back to a school and I be

pleasant with the office staff that watched this brutal attack by the

police officer on me and did not help. I spent many hours in the ER

last night. I am okay, just very sore and severely bruised. There

is so much more to tell but this is a summary to get started. I

appreciate any advice and support. Thank you, Jeannine in

Shelby Twp, Michigan (Utica Community Schools)

>

>

[Guest guest]

Things like this almost make me ashamed ever to have worked in a school.

One thing about what Jeannine went through that everyone should think about,

and please understand, I am NOT defending the police officer, especially the

force that was used: Anytime a third party (Jeaninne) interferes with, comments

on, or questions a police action, this sort of thing can happen. It's crazy,

but it happens all the time. I know that the child is Jeannine's child. To the

police, it makes no difference. Clearly the police officer wasn't thinking and

over-reacted in a brutal way.

A teenage son of a friend of mine was arrested and thrown in jail simply for

asking the police what was going on when they were questioning a friend of his.

That's it. The charge: Interfering with the police during a police action.

The charges were later dropped, but he has the arrest on his record for the rest

of his life.

S. Hart

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Make sure you take pictures of your bruises. Make sure you have

everything documented. You obviously didnt just show up at school.

You were called there. If that's the case you werent trespassing. The

police cannot talk to your son without your permission. If the

officer asked you to leave - you were within your rights to stay

unless your son was leaving with you. If they thought they were gonna

interrogate your son without a parent or lawyer they also were

violating his rights. Unfortunately though at this point its gonna

become a he said/she said kind of thing. Are there gonna be any

witnesses willing to corraborate your story knowing that if they

dont they will be committing purgery. You might try to find out from

other special needs parents within your school if they have ever

encountered any similar behavior from the administrators. You might

also see if any other parents had their children transferred out of

the school due to the hostile environment. (I have no idea how you

would find that out except maybe a few neighborhood flyers although

if the media gets involved they can probably uncover anything lol) I

understand that in the age we live in there is a zero tolerance

policy, but a 9 year old.... come on. The first call should have been

to you - not the police. Its obvious they want you gone. And they are

willing to create a very hostile environment in order to achieve

their goals. I wish you luck. Don't settle. Your child deserves more.

I am sure that at some point the principle will say that he never

authorized the use of force against you (to cover his butt). But he

is as responsible for this mess as the police department is. That

officer needs to have her gun taken away. She obviously over-reacted.

There is no place for that on the police force.

Penny

> Hi, I recently joined this group and have been reading the many

school difficulties that parents have been having across the

country. I am a single Mom of an Aspergers, Tourette's Syndrome 9

1/2 year old boy. He is in Shelby Twp, Utica Community Schools in an

upper level EI classroom as the district does not have any high

functioning AS classes. It has difficult from the beginning. They

have little to no knowledge of the disorder and I have spent more

fighting with the district than helping my son in a positive manner

to meet his educational needs. The school has been constantly

threatening to call the police on my child for " hitting " and " making

threats " . Many of his " threats " are word for word from " cartoons " .

Yesterday, the principal called the police on my son for making

a " threat " . When I arrived at school, I first saw a class aide and

she stated that my son was doing good in the classroom doing his

work. I next entered the principal's office where him, the social

worker and police office were. I stated " this is rediculous " . I

would not allow the officer to talk to my son as she has little to no

knowledge of autism and the school's tactics were uncalled for. In

short, I was upset and attempted to walk away from the principal's

office to " cool off " and the police officer grabbed me, threw me on

the ground, handcuffed me in front of the office staff and students.

I could not breath. I am 5 feet tall and weigh about 99 lbs. I was

screaming for help. I had done nothing wrong. I tried to roll

sideways so I could breath and then the office jabbed her knee into

my back, put the handcuffs in a straight position and jabbed her knee

forcefully into the cuffs, cutting my wrists. I was thrown in the

police car, taken to Shelby Police Dept and arrested for

trespassing. In addition, I sustained additional agressive behavior

at the station, but not in front of the cameras by another police

officer. All I could do was cry. It has been a road of hell trying

to advocate for my son and all I was trying to do was protect my

son. I was not agressive in any way to the police, and did not

deserve this attack. In addition my son is now suspended until

January 5, 2004. I need help! I have left a message with Michigan

Protection and Advocacy. How can my son go back to a school and I be

pleasant with the office staff that watched this brutal attack by the

police officer on me and did not help. I spent many hours in the ER

last night. I am okay, just very sore and severely bruised. There

is so much more to tell but this is a summary to get started. I

appreciate any advice and support. Thank you, Jeannine in

Shelby Twp, Michigan (Utica Community Schools)

>

>

[Guest guest]

I feel the same way about this! I cannot believe it! What a horrible thing to

happen!

Why would they call the police in the first place? Don't they have an expert

(usually the principal or school psych) to help in these kind

of situations?

I feel so sorry for you and your son.

I hope you can find the right school environment for him.

Gretchen

> I'm speechless! My jaw is on the floor. I am soo sorry for you! I wouldn't

> be able to send my son back there. I don't have any suggestions, just wanted

> you to know that I'll be thinking of you and praying for your family too!

> Mindy

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Jeannine,

My heart goes out to you and your son. It is like an episode from 'The

Twilight Zone'. Really, the school messed up big time. So unprofessional. The

police should never have been called.

Unfortunately, police are called on students more and more frequently. Where

I live, there's not a school day that goes by that police are not called on a

teacher or a student. It is usually for something that could have been handled

in a low key manner. One example from my city: The police were called on a

first-grade student, that is a FIRST GRADE student, because he had what amounted

to a small knife (about 2 inches long) in his pocket or backpack. It was a

dull, beat-up, old knife his grandfather had given him. A sharpened pencil

would have been a better weapon than this knife.

S. Hart