6-Year-Old Arrested for Tantrum

Orlando (WTFF) – A school resource officer handcuffed and arrested a 6-year-old girl for reportedly kicking someone during a tantrum.

Meralyn Kirkland received a phone call Thursday saying a school resource officer at Lucious and Emma Nixon Academy arrested her granddaughter, 6-year-old Kaia Rolle. (Click Orlando)

The first grader was handcuffed and taken to the police station where she was fingerprinted and had a mug shot taken. (WFLA)

The grandmother spoke with WKMG News 6 about the incident:

Another 6-year-old was arrested by the same officer that day in a separate incident, according to the Washington Post.

The officer was fired on Monday because of public outcry.

Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolón said the arresting officer, Dennis Turner, did not follow the department’s policy requiring approval from a supervisor for any arrest of a minor younger than 12.

Police refused to identify the two arrested children or provide details about the case. They only said that a young boy and girl were both charged with misdemeanor battery in two separate events.

The charges against both children were eventually dropped. State attorney Aramis D. Ayala said Monday that her office never intended to prosecute.

“I refuse to knowingly play any role in the school-to-prison pipeline at any age,” Ayala told the Washington Post. “These very young children are to be protected, nurtured and disciplined in a manner that does not rely on the criminal justice system to do it.”