Cops in Milledgeville Georgia say they handcuffed an elementary school student for her safety after she allegedly threw a tantrum.
According to the police report, kindergartner Salecia Johnson is accused of tearing items off the walls and throwing furniture. The report says the girl knocked over a shelf that injured the principal. She was crying in the principal’s office at Creekside Elementary before cops arrived. The report says when the officer tried to calm the child, she resisted and was cuffed.
“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.
They took the child to the police station where she was charged with simple assault and damage to property. Because of her age, she will not have to go to court.
“A 6-year-old in kindergarten. They don’t have no business calling the police and handcuffing my child,” said Earnest Johnson, Salecia’s father. Police say they tried to contact Johnson’s mother but weren’t able to reach her.
Her mother, Constance Ruff, seen below, says her daughter was suspended and cannot return to school until August. “She has mood swings some days, which all of us had mood swings some days. I guess that was just one of her bad days that day,” said Constance Ruff.
“She might have misbehaved, but I don’t think she misbehaved to the point where she should have been handcuffed and taken downtown to the police department,” said her aunt, Candace Ruff.
