‘Out-of-Control’ 8 Year-old Handcuffed, Jailed for Two Hours for Throwing Tantrum
An 8 year-old Illinois girl was handcuffed and jailed for two hours after she allegedly threw a massive tantrum at school.
Jymha Rickman was apparently out of control and had torn apart two classrooms. School officials say she has a history of throwing tantrums.
But Rickman’s parents say she was mistreated by the police. They allege her hands and feet were cuffed – leaving welts on her wrists – and that she was refused permission to use the restroom.
Alton police are disputing some of the family’s claims, saying that the child was put in a juvenile detention room with supervision. They added that the school called them because Rickman was reportedly out of control and had torn up two classrooms. The arresting cop believes he took appropriate action.
Kristie Baumgartner, assistant superintendent of the Alton School District, told The Daily Mail that “she could not comment on specifics of the incident, citing Illinois privacy laws regarding children. However, she outlined school district policy, which says that if a student is at risk of harming themselves or others, police would be called if the child’s parent or guardian refuses to pick them up.”
But Keeton (Jymha’s mother) feels the officer’s actions were excessive. “This is something that I don’t feel like any 7 or 8 year old – I mean, she didn’t have a weapon threatening to harm anybody,” he said.
Even if Jymha was out of control, is it ever appropriate to handcuff and jail an 8 year-old?
Were the officers’ actions justified?
Sound off below!