10y/o arrested

**213th** · 12-15-07, 01:58 AM

This is complete and utter bullshit

An elementary student in Marion County was arrested Thursday after school officials found her cutting food during lunch with a knife that she brought from home, police said.

The 10-year-old girl, a student at Sunrise Elementary School in Ocala, was charged possession of a weapon on school property, which is a felony.

According to authorities, school employees spotted the girl cutting her food while she was eating lunch and took the steak knife from her.

The girl told sheriff's deputies that she had brought the knife to school on more than one occasion in the past.

Students told officials that the girl did not threaten anyone with the knife.

The girl was arrested and transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center.

**adroitcuffs** · 12-15-07, 02:02 AM

And therein lies the problem with "zero tolerance" policies...

**Hannah87** · 12-15-07, 02:05 AM

WHAT
THE
F***?
Jesus.

**suellen446** · 12-15-07, 03:36 AM

absolutely ridiculous! a total waste of time and resourses that could be better used else where. and now what is going to happen to that child? can you imagine what her family must be going through?

**Ender** · 12-15-07, 04:26 AM

Originally Posted by adroitcuffs

And therein lies the problem with "zero tolerance" policies...

just about what i was gonna post.

"zero tolerance," = mucho stupidity.

**Coloradocop** · 12-15-07, 04:29 AM

That's messed up. I wouldn't have made that arrest, and it surprises me that anyone did...

**121Traffic** · 12-15-07, 04:45 AM

Coloradocop, the department may have a no discretion policy when the school is making the complaint. I know we have something similar. It is up to the DA to refuse the charge. Fucking unbelievable.

**mack** · 12-15-07, 05:04 AM

Some things are just taken way too far.

**Coloradocop** · 12-15-07, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by 121Traffic

Coloradocop, the department may have a no discretion policy when the school is making the complaint. I know we have something similar. It is up to the DA to refuse the charge. Fucking unbelievable.

Maybe, I guess we just have a bit more discretion here. Either way, I'd sure hope that the DA would toss this one!

I searched for this and read the whole article. It does sort of sound like each side is trying to blame the other... The school claims they were following policy and didn't want the girl arrested... And the sheriff's office claims that they were bound by policy after the school called. Perhaps both sides of this issue need to revisit their policy decisions?

**BEK** · 12-15-07, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by 121Traffic

Coloradocop, the department may have a no discretion policy when the school is making the complaint. I know we have something similar. It is up to the DA to refuse the charge. Fucking unbelievable.

wow, I havent heard that before. This story is bull, I could see a community outcry happening. I know if that happened in small communities the officer would be looking for a new job.

**Pudge** · 12-15-07, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by 121Traffic

Coloradocop, the department may have a no discretion policy when the school is making the complaint. I know we have something similar. It is up to the DA to refuse the charge. Fucking unbelievable.

Definitely one of those situations where you explain to the parents how much bullshit the policy is and to find a good lawyer while you're arresting the kid.

**ex401mp** · 12-15-07, 02:15 PM

Here in Florida where that happened, there is no choice. They took that choice away from us in law enforcement and gave it to the dumbasses at the schools to decide if criminal charges will be applied. Not sure about Marion County, but down here where I work, juveniles get transported to our jail and the juvenile assessment center is called. They determine if that juvenile has enough points in their system to either be placed into their facility or released to their parents after they are booked. If they are taken to their facility, it means that they usually have one or more felonies on their record or it was an act of domestic violence.

**gozling** · 12-15-07, 02:20 PM

oh so lets let her choke on a piece of food and then sue the school system for millions

may someone do this soon.

what the fuck ever happend with that word..."intent"?????

**Probation13-901** · 12-15-07, 03:48 PM

I think someone should have made a judgment call on this one.

**kjlaw** · 12-15-07, 03:53 PM

Originally Posted by adroitcuffs

And therein lies the problem with "zero tolerance" policies...

You took the words right out of my fingers.

**nypd12962** · 12-15-07, 04:07 PM

Unreal, it's not a crime to have a knife for the purpose of cutting your own food. I guess someone forget common sense here!

**Ender** · 12-15-07, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by Pudge113

Definitely one of those situations where you explain to the parents how much bullshit the policy is and to find a good lawyer while you're arresting the kid.

well put, Pudge!

**kay88** · 12-15-07, 05:47 PM

That is absolutely ridiculous. She was using it for its intended use and it said that she was not threatening anyone. Having her arrested and making charges against her seem to be more detrimental than anything. Now, she could face more than just charges, but ridicule, etc at school by her peers. To me, it seems more threatening to have done what they did rather than just take it away and tell her not to do it again. I do not want to defend the school officials in anyway, but if they were completely 100% bound by policy then there may not have been another way and as others in this thread have stated maybe a policy change is in order. If they are not bound, then... poor judgement on their part. Terrible.

**PapaBear** · 12-15-07, 05:48 PM

In the immortal words from "The Life Of Riley": "What a revolting development this is!"

Who'd a thunk the libs would have created such a dilemma when they pushed for all those zero tolerance laws affecting our youth?

1*girl · 12-15-07, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by Coloradocop

The school claims they were following policy and didn't want the girl arrested... And the sheriff's office claims that they were bound by policy after the school called. Perhaps both sides of this issue need to revisit their policy decisions?

Then why the hell even call? If policy is to call over that, someone should have bent that rule.