Photo: Getty Images
A lawsuit has been filed by the family of a Florida girl who was arrested at school when she was six years old.
On Monday (September 18), the family of Kaia Rolle filed the complaint against the city of Orlando and several law enforcement officials following her 2019 arrest at Lucious & Emma Nixon Academy Charter School, per the Atlanta Black Star.
The lawsuit alleges that Orlando police officers Dennis Turner and Sergio Ramos “had no probable cause” and “used excessive force” when they handcuffed Rolle at school. According to the suit, Rolle was arrested after having a tantrum in class due to her sleep apnea, a condition that the school was aware of.
In a video of the incident, Rolle appeared to plead for help while being handcuffed.
“I don’t want to go in the police car,” the child said. “You don’t want to?” one of the officers responded.
“No, please,” she said. “Give me a second chance.”
The officers then put Rolle in the back of a police car.
"Please, let me go!” Rolle pleaded.
Rolle was allegedly taken to a juvenile detention center where she was fingerprinted and had to step on a step stool to take a mugshot. She was arrested on charges of misdemeanor battery, which were later dropped. Turner was also fired.
Her family's lawsuit is seeking compensation for the child's pain and suffering as well as her medical expenses. Rolle's family is also urging the state to amend the Kaia Rolle Act, raising the minimum age for arrests from 7 to 12.
“I like my law how it is now, but, like, grandma said, I want it to be at 12 so me and other kids can be protected,” Rolle said in a statement.
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