12-year-old New York City junior high student handcuffed, arrested for doodling on desk
By APFriday, February 5, 2010
NYC student arrested for doodling on school desk
NEW YORK — A New York City junior high student has been arrested for doodling on her desk with a marker.
Twelve-year-old Alexa Gonzalez scribbled “Lex was here 2/1/10″ on her desk Monday at Junior High School 190 in Queens. She also wrote “I love my friends Abby and Faith.” The girl says the doodles could have been erased.
Moraima Camacho says her daughter was released several hours after she was taken in handcuffs to a police station.
Education department spokesman David Cantor said the incident shouldn’t have happened, and that common sense should prevail.
Last month, the New York Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit alleging more than 20 instances of wrongful arrests and assaults by school safety officers.
Gonzalez has been assigned eight hours of community service, a book report and an essay on what she’s learned from the experience.
Information from: Daily News, www.nydailynews.com
