A 12-year-old girl was handcuffed after an altercation with another student at a Bronx middle school last month, police said Wednesday. The girl's mother wanted answers about the ordeal.
The incident involving the sixth-grader occurred on Nov. 19 at No. 584 Middle School on St. Anne's Street in the South Bronx after the sixth-grader was involved in a “physical altercation,” according to the NYPD. Ta.
Police said school safety officials initially tried to place Velcro handcuffs on the student as he became “increasingly agitated” and began punching officers and school administrators just before 2:30 p.m.
When she did not comply, safety personnel used metal handcuffs, police said.
“The child was handcuffed for approximately 15 minutes before being released to his mother,” a police spokesperson said, adding that the mother was already at the school and “was provided with information regarding the incident.”
But this sequence of events contradicts what furious mother Christine Henson encountered when she came to pick up her daughter Faith that day.
In an interview with daily newsHenson claims the preschooler was handcuffed for three hours and that no one, including school officials or police, has yet explained why she was restrained in the first place.
“I asked the school safety officer, 'Why is she handcuffed?' Could you take them off her? She said, 'She's not going anywhere. No,''' Henson said of the moment she saw her child upset in the chair.
“My daughter was treated like a criminal. She was really violated. It makes no sense,” Henson continued, adding that she took photos and videos of her daughter with her hands cuffed behind her back. .
Faith also claims she doesn't know why a school safety officer employed by the NYPD put a collar on her.
“It just happened out of nowhere,” the preschooler said. “They did it secretly. I was confused as to why they did that. I felt terrible. It wasn't right. They just did it. I didn't say that. My wrist is starting to hurt now.
The girl, who was rushed to the hospital the next day with wrist and neck pain, is now “scared” and doesn't want to go to class and wants to change schools.
Her mother added that her child has not been disciplined following the incident and plans to sue the school.
“The school expected me to cover it up and ignore them like nothing happened. They want this to go away,” Henson told the outlet.
Information about the alleged altercation with another student or what led up to it was not immediately available.
A spokesperson for the city's Department of Education told the Post that school officials have contacted the family.
“It is important that all students and their families feel safe and respected within our schools,” the spokesperson said.
“School and district leaders are reaching out to this family to ensure they receive the help they need and ensuring that mental health and emotional support is available at all schools. We are taking steps to ensure these students are aware of these resources.”
Education officials said restraining students is at the discretion of the NYPD.
The newspaper has reached out to Henson for comment.
