LAKELAND, FL -
On February 4
th
, 2019, a School Resource Officer with the Lakeland Police Department investigated a disturbance in a classroom at Lawton Chiles Middle Academy. A student in 6
th
grade created a disruption in the classroom. The School Resource Officer and Dean of Students responded to the classroom and attempted to calm the student down. The student was asked over 20 times to leave the classroom by the Dean of Students. The School Resource Officer then intervened and asked the student to exit the classroom and he refused. The student left the classroom and created another disturbance and made threats while he was escorted to the office.
The student failed to comply with the officer and the school administrator interfering with the educational process.
The student was arrested for Disrupting a School Function and Resisting Officer Without Violence and was transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center.
To be clear, the student was NOT arrested for refusing to participate in the pledge; students are not required to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance as noted in the Polk County School Board Code of Conduct for Student
s.
This arrest was based on the student’s choice to disrupt the classroom, make threats and resisting the officer’s efforts to leave the classroom. The students name is not being released in accordance with Florida Public Record Laws regarding juveniles arrested for a misdemeanor.
Media inquiries should be directed to 863.583.2357.
