Florida Officer Who Arrested Six-Year-Old Over Temper Tantrum Suspended

A school resource officer who decided to arrest a six-year-old girl has been suspended. Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolon announced that Officer Dennis Turner violated the department's policy by arresting the young girl without getting approval from his watch commander first. It was the second time Turner failed to get permission before arresting a young child.

"As a grandparent of three children less than 11 years old this is very concerning to me," Rolon said in a statement.

The incident occurred last week when six-year-old Kaia Rolle threw a temper tantrum and was taken to the principal's office. When a staff member grabbed Kaia's wrist, she began kicking and screaming, prompting Turner to place her in handcuffs. He ordered another officer to transport her to the Juvenile Assessment Center on charges of battery. The officer returned Kaia to school before she was processed when he learned that Turner did not get approval for her arrest.

Investigators also learned of a similar incident with an eight-year-old student. That child was processed and charged, but officials did not release the details of that case.

Kaia's grandmother, Meralyn Kirkland, was shocked to learn the young girl was arrested and tried to explain to Turner that she suffers from sleep apnea, which can cause her to act out.

"She has a medical condition that we are working on getting resolved, and he says, "What medical condition?' 'She has a sleep disorder, sleep apnea,' and he says, 'Well, I have sleep apnea, and I don't behave like that,'" Kirkland said.

Turner has a history of issues during his tenure with the Orlando Police Department. He was reportedly arrested in 1998 for allegedly beating his seven-year-old son, and in 2016 an internal investigation found he used excessive force during an arrest.

Officials say they the investigation is still on-going.


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