Key West, FL — A video of an utterly disgusting display of the American police state was published by attorney Ben Crump last year showing a tiny child being frisked, handcuffed, and hauled off to an adult prison for processing. His crime — acting out in school.
Now, a year after the world saw this atrocity unfold, a federal judge ruled that officers did not violate the boy’s rights. “The court cannot overlook the fact that — as depicted in the arrest video— Waite merely attempted to handcuff [the boy] for less than thirty seconds, causing no physical pain or injury,” U.S. District Court Chief Judge K. Michael Moore wrote in an 18-page order filed Monday.
“Waite then abandoned the effort and escorted [the boy] unrestrained,” Moore wrote. The officers explained to [him] why they were arresting him, speaking to him calmly and explaining the severity of his actions.” But the judge completely ignored the fact that the child was 8.
“A mental health crisis at a school, and they feel it is appropriate to arrest, charge and have him become a convicted felon at eight years old,” Crump said after the lawsuit was filed last year. In a post on Facebook, Crump released the video with the following description:
Unbelievable!! Key West Police used “Scared Straight” tactics on an 8 yr old boy with special needs. He’s 3.5 ft tall and 64 lbs, but they thought it was appropriate to handcuff and transport him to an adult prison for processing. He’s so small the cuffs fell off his wrists! This is NOT how you discipline a child with a mental disability!! We are working to get this little boy and his family the justice they deserve.
