Poor Richards Blog
13-year-old Kevens Jean-Baptiste was already in handcuffs when one of the police officers involved puts him in a choke hold and lifts him off the ground by his neck. Later, the officer kicks the boys legs out from underneath him, sending him crashing to the ground, landing on his cuffed arms.
Here’s the video showing the choke hold (language warning):
And here’s the video showing the boy being kicked (language warning):
Here’s more detail on the story from WPLG:
Kevens Jean-Baptiste said he was handcuffed and taken off a school bus last week after he and another boy opened windows against the driver’s orders.
One day earlier, students threw eggs from the bus, but Kevens said he wasn’t being unruly.
"The girl sprayed perfume and I got asthma," he said. "I was coughing and I tried to turn on the AC. He said no, so I rolled down my window."
Police were called after the boys disobeyed the driver.
That’s when cellphone video apparently shows the officer putting Kevens in a choke hold and kicking the boy’s legs, causing him to fall on his back to the ground.
Boynton Beach police said the officer, who has not been identified, has been placed on administrative duty after the video surfaced on the Internet.
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Here’s the deal: even if Jean-Baptiste was being belligerent and disrespectful to the police officer, that does not excuse the officers actions. The cop involved here is a grown man with training on how to hurt people, and Jean-Bapstiste is a skinny 13-year-old boy. The officer deserves to lose his job immediately.
I also question why the police were involved in the first place. Disobeying a school bus driver should be a matter of school discipline, not a police issue. School districts around the country have been increasingly quick to call the cops on children instead of foster a disciplined environment for students.
13-year-old Kevens Jean-Baptiste was already in handcuffs when one of the police officers involved puts him in a choke hold and lifts him off the ground by his neck. Later, the officer kicks the boys legs out from underneath him, sending him crashing to the ground, landing on his cuffed arms.
Here’s the video showing the choke hold (language warning):
And here’s the video showing the boy being kicked (language warning):
Here’s more detail on the story from WPLG:
Kevens Jean-Baptiste said he was handcuffed and taken off a school bus last week after he and another boy opened windows against the driver’s orders.
One day earlier, students threw eggs from the bus, but Kevens said he wasn’t being unruly.
"The girl sprayed perfume and I got asthma," he said. "I was coughing and I tried to turn on the AC. He said no, so I rolled down my window."
Police were called after the boys disobeyed the driver.
That’s when cellphone video apparently shows the officer putting Kevens in a choke hold and kicking the boy’s legs, causing him to fall on his back to the ground.
Boynton Beach police said the officer, who has not been identified, has been placed on administrative duty after the video surfaced on the Internet.
READ THE REST
Here’s the deal: even if Jean-Baptiste was being belligerent and disrespectful to the police officer, that does not excuse the officers actions. The cop involved here is a grown man with training on how to hurt people, and Jean-Bapstiste is a skinny 13-year-old boy. The officer deserves to lose his job immediately.
I also question why the police were involved in the first place. Disobeying a school bus driver should be a matter of school discipline, not a police issue. School districts around the country have been increasingly quick to call the cops on children instead of foster a disciplined environment for students.
