School officer grabs 15-year-old girl’s hair, chokes her over headphones, lawyer says
In confronting a 15-year-old girl over wearing headphones, a school resource officer grabbed the student’s hair, choked her and then ordered her to get down in a “push-up” position, court documents say.
The excessive force was captured on video at Nichols Middle School in Canton, Mississippi, which is about a 25-mile drive northeast from Jackson, according to a June 13 news release issued by attorney Carlos E. Moore’s law firm.
The incident began when eighth grader Cantanna Francois left class to get water from a teacher so she could take her prescription medication on April 4, according to Moore, who represents the girl and her mother.
It was “typical and common” for Francois to take her medicine in school — and for students to wear headphones, Moore wrote in court documents obtained by McClatchy News.
As Francois headed to the teacher who usually gives her water, Officer Jahyeah Parker was speaking with the teacher and approached Francois about her headphones, according to a notice of a legal claim.
Parker “quickly escalated the conversation, and began to physically assault Francois,” the notice of a claim says.
That’s when Parker is accused of grabbing Francois’ hair before choking and verbally assaulting her, according to Moore.
Afterward, Parker “told her to get into a ‘push-up’ position on her stomach and hands,” Moore says.
“As a mother, my heart aches for my daughter, Cantanna, who has been deeply affected by this horrifying incident,” Alexis Davis told McClatchy News on June 14.
Officer fired from school
Parker was fired from her job at the middle school after the encounter with Francois, but still works as a Canton Police Department officer, according to Moore.
In April, Canton Public School District Superintendent Gary Hannah told WAPT that “after conducting a thorough investigation, it was discovered that the resource officer had failed to adhere to proper procedures and protocols.”
“Consequently, the Nichols Middle School resource officer was terminated.”
The district declined McClatchy News’ request for comment on June 14 due to pending litigation.
A demand to release video footage
Davis filed a lawsuit on May 28 against the school district to demand the release surveillance footage and any documents relating to Parker assaulting her daughter, records show.
“She experienced unimaginable fear and pain at a place where she should feel safe and protected,” Davis said of Francois.
“I am calling for the immediate release of the video evidence because it is important for the truth to come to light,” she told McClatchy News. “Cantanna deserves justice, and it is crucial for the community to see what happened to ensure that such an incident never occurs again.”
Further legal action will be pursued against the district, the city of Canton, Parker, and other unnamed officers for violations of Francois’ constitutional rights, according to Moore.
Davis and Francois are demanding $10 million in damages.
The city and the Canton Police Chief Otha Brown didn’t immediately respond to McClatchy News’ requests for comment on June 14.
Francois is “traumatized by the amount of force used on her” on April 4 and suffers from “physical anguish, trauma, PTSD, fright, shock, humiliation and other injuries,” Moore wrote in the notice of a legal claim.
“The public has a right to know what transpired, and the immediate release of the video evidence is crucial for transparency and justice,” Moore said in the news release.
“This is not just about seeking justice for Cantanna Francois. It’s about ensuring that such horrific incidents do not happen to any other student.”
This story was originally published June 14, 2024 at 8:15 AM with the headline "School officer grabs 15-year-old girl’s hair, chokes her over headphones, lawyer says."
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