The surveillance video of a typical morning at an Akron, Ohio high school captured a disturbing event between a school resource officer and a student that resulted in both sides facing some serious repercussions.
On Monday (Oct. 21), Akron Public Schools released the video from the incident from last week showing a 16-year-old Firestone High School student make his way through security before being directed to pass through the metal detector again.
The district’s report says the student tried to evade the medal detectors by charging through the school security officers. Per the video, the teen walked back through the detector but an officer ordered him to go back once again...but this time, by placing his hands on each of the teen’s shoulders and shoving him away.
However, the teen turned back around and rushed the security officer, the video shows. Another officer then grabbed the teen, helping the other try to restrain him on the ground. The two officers then lifted the teen back on his feet and walked him down the hallway while holding his hands behind his back.
Suddenly, the video shows one officer punching the teen in the head multiple times, taking the three of them back onto the ground. No audio was provided with the video to confirm what words were exchanged, if any.
In a news conference, Akron Mayor Shammas Malik said no weapon was found on the student, but instead a cellphone which caused the metal detectors to keep going off. According to school district policy, students are not allowed to bring phones into school and must store them in a pouch provided by staff.
The incident resulted in the student being charged with resisting arrest, obstructing official business and criminal trespassing, per NBC News. The mayor said in the press conference after speaking with the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office that the charges would be dismissed without prejudice.
In the meantime, the officer in question has been placed on administrative duty as his use of force is investigated, per the report. On the other hand, the teen plans to take his own shot at justice by hiring the legal firm that represented the family of Jayland Walker, the young Black man who was killed by Akron police in a hail of over 90 bullets.
“He is a child. And no child deserves to be punched in the face by an adult, especially when that adult happens to be an Akron police officer,” said attorney Bobby DiCello, via NBC.