A seven-year-old boy is handcuffed, transferred in a patrol car and taken by the police to a hospital to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, after his teacher accused him of assaulting him.
We are not talking about a convoluted plot of fiction, but what a child has lived in a Primary school in Miami (United States), and that has divided public opinion. On the one hand, those who defend police action, and others who consider that the measures applied are disproportionate for a child of such a young age.
It was the second time the child showed violent behavior
As reported by the newspaper El Nuevo Herald, the seven-year-old boy and First Grade (Primary) student at Coral Way K-8 Center in Miami, was eating in the school cafeteria when a teacher told him he was playing with the food and took him out into the hall.
At that time, and according to police sources, the boy hit the teacher in the back and got involved with her in a fight of punches and kicks that made them both fall to the ground.
After notifying the family of the child, the school also gave notice to the police, as it was the second time the boy showed this type of behavior and had already been expelled last November for a similar situation.
"He began to behave erratically and hit a teacher. Due to a great concern for the student and to ensure his safety and that of those around him, was restricted according to the Baker Law and transported to the hospital for evaluation "- said public school spokeswoman Jackie Calzadilla.
The Backer Law referred to by the spokeswoman is a Florida mental health law, which enables stop a person based on behavioral criteria that may indicate that the individual represents a danger to himself and to those around him.
The Miami police appeared in the child's school and, without their family's consent, they took the child arrested and handcuffed to the Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami, where he was discharged hours later after being subjected to a psychiatric evaluation.
In this video recorded by the boy's mother you can see the moment of the police arrest and the arrival at the hospital.
A disproportionate punishment
The child's family the version of the facts that the school has contributed does not quite believe, because it is difficult for a seven-year-old child to be able to throw a teacher to the ground.
In addition, they argue that their son was always a good student and that behavior problems began at the beginning of this academic year, so they believe that his son is being a victim of bullying and that the center has failed to detect it.
Thus, parents are evaluating possible legal actions against the Miami-Dade School System, and they study filing a formal complaint with the police, since they consider the treatment the child has received unfair and disproportionate.
They claim that his son was calm when the police arrested him and that, therefore, wives were not necessary. They believe that there has been an abuse of force by the police and that A seven year old does not deserve to be treated as a criminal.
For its part, the Univisión news network launched a popular survey asking Internet users whether or not they considered police action disproportionate and opinion is clearly divided, as we can see in this image:
Thanks to all who voted. Clearly the issue of the seven-year-old handcuffed child has divided opinions. These were the results. #DigitalMiami pic.twitter.com/BVNPP9Ksze
- Univision 23 Miami (@ Univision23) January 26, 2018
Some families have turned to these parents, showing their support and outrage and joining their public complaints. However, also there are many people who believe that police action is more than justified and that it is not about abuse of power or force, but of a necessary corrective method to avoid future problems.
I confess that the images of the boy in handcuffs and escorted by the police have stirred me inside. Where do we get? Is this the best way to correct and teach a child? Of course, I think not, and I am deeply sorry that there are no other measures in your school to deal with these cases based on empathy, emotional education and psychology. But above all, I am sorry that there are those who justify it. What do you think about it?
Via The New Herald
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