Rabat - A Kentucky, USA county sheriff and one of his school resource officers have been called into a federal lawsuit after allegations that they illegally handcuffed an 8-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl, both previously diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Kentucky County Deputy Sheriff Kevin Sumner serves as a school resource officer in the Covington Independent Public Schools district, and is reportedly being sued by the mothers of the two young students who were handcuffed around their biceps.
Both students had been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and the young boy had also been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. The lawsuit asserts that Sumner’s actions violate the students' civil rights and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The lawsuit further claims that officials at both schools knew of the students’ disabilities, which includes "impulsivity, and difficulty paying attention, complying with directives, controlling emotions and remaining seated."
The incidents in Kentucky highlight larger questions as to whether or not police offers receive adequate training when assigned to school districts and for dealing with children with mental disabilities.
The 8-year-old boy was reportedly removed from the classroom for not following the teacher’s directions, and later tried to leave the principal's office but was restrained by school administrators until Sumner arrived to escort the boy to the bathroom.
The boy later tried to hit Sumner with his elbow, according to a report from the Kenton County Sheriff's office cited in the lawsuit. This is what caused Sumner to put the boy in handcuffs.
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