11-Year-Old Girl Tasered At School After Punching Officer In Face

[CactusCarlos]

http://www.wftv.com/news/15722616/detail.html

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- An Orange County deputy said she had no choice but to shock an 11-year-old girl with a Taser on Thursday morning in an elementary school classroom. Deputies said it was to stop a violent temper tantrum.

The girl at Moss Park Elementary punched the deputy in the nose so hard the deputy went to the hospital. While an 11-year-old shocked by a Taser sounds extreme to some parents, other parents told Eyewitness News the girl deserved it.

Eyewitness News talked to several parents Thursday who said that Thaliamar Jimenez has caused trouble before. Most of those parents are coming down firmly on the side of the deputy.

Meanwhile, the mother of the fourth grader is having a hard time understanding how another day at school turned into her daughter going to jail.

"The school knows pretty well that my daughter is like a 5-year-old," explained the girl's mother, Sandra Garcia.

Garcia told Eyewitness News that her 11-year-old daughter has a learning disability and when she was approached by the deputy Thursday morning in class she was simply scared to death.

According to the arrest report, before school Thursday morning, another student told teachers at Moss Park that Thaliamar pushed a boy into the street. When teachers tried to talk to the girl she became combative, started pushing her desk and chair and even spit at the teachers.

The school resource officer, Orange County Deputy Donna Hudepohl, tried to take Thaliamar to the principal's office and that's when the child started swinging, hitting the officer in the nose. Hudepohl was transported to Florida East Hospital. She sustained severe bruising to the nasal cavity as a result of the injury.

"My daughter told me, 'Mommy, you know I wouldn't hit nobody! If I hit her in the nose, it was by mistake. I didn't hit her intentionally. I didn't do that!'" Garcia said.

"She actually spoke to the student, told her multiple times to come. Even after the student punched her, she still continued to try and make the arrest without having to taze her. And that obviously wasn't working," explained Corporal Susan Soto, Orange County Sheriff's Office.

Outside the school, many of the parents Eyewitness News talked to question the use of a Taser on an 11-year-old child.

"I just don't know if that's necessary," one parent said.

Many other parents are standing by the woman they call "their deputy."

"She had it coming. She assaulted an officer. You can't let that go," said parent Shanna Herrick.

Those same parents Eyewitness News talked to said that, to their knowledge, it was the first time an incident like this has taken place at the school.

Jimenez was transported to Florida East Hospital to have the Taser prongs removed, but she had no other injuries. She was arrested and charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, disrupting a school function as well as resisting with violence.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office policy allows deputies to use Tasers when there is "active resistance" from a suspect. There is no rule against using Tasers on children, but in 2005 a Florida lawmaker tried to make it illegal for any officer to shock children with Tasers. The proposal was stalled because there is no scientific research showing what Tasers can do to kids medically.

To: elkfersupper
I agree. The “Board of Education” should be applied to her backside. Vigorously.

17 posted on 03/27/2008 6:28:45 PM PDT by irishtenor (Check out my blog at http://boompa53.blogspot.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies ]

[Chris_]

Is "learning disability" the new PC code word for "stupid f**king brat"?

The school resource officer, Orange County Deputy Donna Hudepohl, tried to take Thaliamar to the principal's office and that's when the child started swinging, hitting the officer in the nose. Hudepohl was transported to Florida East Hospital. She sustained severe bruising to the nasal cavity as a result of the injury.

"My daughter told me, 'Mommy, you know I wouldn't hit nobody! If I hit her in the nose, it was by mistake. I didn't hit her intentionally. I didn't do that!'" Garcia said.

[Miss Mia]

She busted up the officer's nose, then she deserved a good tasering.   

[mamacags]

I recently had to go to a girl's basketball tourny.  There was a team playing where the girls were mostly bigger than I am.  I am not short either.  I thought it was a high school team but they were actually a 5/6th grade team!  Those girls are huge.  I don't have much sympathy for a kid that age that can't control themselves.

[phillygirl]

Since when are our police officers incapable of physically restraining an 11 year old girl without the use of a taser?  I would have expected that they have at least a bit of upper body strength.

[DixieBelle]

Probably since people became lawsuit happy. Nobody wants to be accused of manhandling someone's precious.

[Chris_]

Probably since people became lawsuit happy. Nobody wants to be accused of manhandling someone's precious.

Exactly!  If it weren't for such PC'ness in public schools, kids would likely not be as screwed up as they are these days.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Since when are our police officers incapable of physically restraining an 11 year old girl without the use of a taser?  I would have expected that they have at least a bit of upper body strength.

I'm thinking the exact same thing.

Then I'm thinking the idjits crying about the tasering would be screaming about the brat being sexually molested or some such rot.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[phillygirl]

There was a time when members of our police force were capable of running down a 200 pound suspect, pinning him to the ground, and arresting him.  I'm starting to think that the tazers are the force's way of eliminating the physical fitness aspect of training.

[bijou]

http://580wdbo.com/includes/news/indepth/09256_11-Year-Old-Charged-with-Deputy-Assault-Released_180320.html

I googled the story. The deputy did try and restrain her and handcuff her, but she was resistant, and as the pic at the link shows she is not a tiny child. If she was completely out of control then tasering may have been the safer option.

[Lord Undies]

There was a time when members of our police force were capable of running down a 200 pound suspect, pinning him to the ground, and arresting him.  I'm starting to think that the tazers are the force's way of eliminating the physical fitness aspect of training.

Back in the old days, our police force use to be all men.  Maybe the tazer is a way to make Officer Bonnie Sue Flowers seem as effective as the old days.

[phillygirl]

There was a time when members of our police force were capable of running down a 200 pound suspect, pinning him to the ground, and arresting him.  I'm starting to think that the tazers are the force's way of eliminating the physical fitness aspect of training.

Back in the old days, our police force use to be all men.  Maybe the tazer is a way to make Officer Bonnie Sue Flowers seem as effective as the old days.

Possibly.  It's ridiculous either way. 

[Chris_]

Sure there are spoiled brats who lack discipline. But I have firsthand experience with children who do have mental illness or other neurological issues which prevent them from comprehending right and wrong or understanding consequences. Their disability prohibits them from integrating seamlessly into society.

They need to be dealt with and there is no pretty or ideal way to do it. One thing I can tell you, these children are not the result of bad parenting, although bad parenting can certainly exacerbate the situation.

[Chris_]

She broke the cop's nose. Those whining about her being tasered should be happy the cops didn't subdue her with their night sticks. I've asked a few friends in law enforcement about the idiotic rule that they must be tased to be allowed to carry a taser and everyone says it hurts like hell, but, ONLY when it is ON.

[Chris_]

Sure there are spoiled brats who lack discipline. But I have firsthand experience with children who do have mental illness or other neurological issues which prevent them from comprehending right and wrong or understanding consequences. Their disability prohibits them from integrating seamlessly into society.

They need to be dealt with and there is no pretty or ideal way to do it. One thing I can tell you, these children are not the result of bad parenting, although bad parenting can certainly exacerbate the situation.

If this is the case, and I don't doubt that it is, they DON'T belong in the public schools, they belong in an institution.......

doc

[Chris_]

Sure there are spoiled brats who lack discipline. But I have firsthand experience with children who do have mental illness or other neurological issues which prevent them from comprehending right and wrong or understanding consequences. Their disability prohibits them from integrating seamlessly into society.

They need to be dealt with and there is no pretty or ideal way to do it. One thing I can tell you, these children are not the result of bad parenting, although bad parenting can certainly exacerbate the situation.

If this is the case, and I don't doubt that it is, they DON'T belong in the public schools, they belong in an institution.......

doc

Yes I would agree, mainstreaming is a colossal failure.

[Chris_]

Sure there are spoiled brats who lack discipline. But I have firsthand experience with children who do have mental illness or other neurological issues which prevent them from comprehending right and wrong or understanding consequences. Their disability prohibits them from integrating seamlessly into society.

They need to be dealt with and there is no pretty or ideal way to do it. One thing I can tell you, these children are not the result of bad parenting, although bad parenting can certainly exacerbate the situation.

If this is the case, and I don't doubt that it is, they DON'T belong in the public schools, they belong in an institution.......

doc

Yes I would agree, mainstreaming is a colossal failure.

Is that what it is called....."mainstreaming"...?    Why is it done?   It makes no sense to me to place a person so handicapped that they CANNOT learn effecively in classrooms with students that NEED to learn effectively to function in society......

Our children are grown and gone, so I have no awareness of what is going on in public schools today, but suffice it to say, I would now allow my kids to attend schools where that kind of distraction was a normal event.....

doc

[Chris_]

Sure there are spoiled brats who lack discipline. But I have firsthand experience with children who do have mental illness or other neurological issues which prevent them from comprehending right and wrong or understanding consequences. Their disability prohibits them from integrating seamlessly into society.

They need to be dealt with and there is no pretty or ideal way to do it. One thing I can tell you, these children are not the result of bad parenting, although bad parenting can certainly exacerbate the situation.

If this is the case, and I don't doubt that it is, they DON'T belong in the public schools, they belong in an institution.......

doc

Yes I would agree, mainstreaming is a colossal failure.

Is that what it is called....."mainstreaming"...?    Why is it done?   It makes no sense to me to place a person so handicapped that they CANNOT learn effecively in classrooms with students that NEED to learn effectively to function in society......

Our children are grown and gone, so I have no awareness of what is going on in public schools today, but suffice it to say, I would now allow my kids to attend schools where that kind of distraction was a normal event.....

doc

Yes it is. In some cases mainstreaming works well and I think it is actually good for typical children to be educated alongside children who have special needs as it teaches them valuable lessons of compassion. I know that sounds very "liberal-speak", it is actually more a testament to Judeo-Christian philosophy.

The children who are mainstream candidates are ones that are mildly retarded or perhaps have physical disabilities, etc. The severely emotional or behaviorally disturbed kids need to be isolated for their own safety as well as others.

[Chris_]

^Well...being the cynical purist that I am, I would argue that it is not the role of the school system to teach "compassion", I did that in the home and church environments......   It seems to me, notwithstanding classes that are taught SOLELY for handicapped kids, placing them in with others is degrading the overall quality (and speed) of education for the rest......

doc

[phillygirl]

Sure there are spoiled brats who lack discipline. But I have firsthand experience with children who do have mental illness or other neurological issues which prevent them from comprehending right and wrong or understanding consequences. Their disability prohibits them from integrating seamlessly into society.

They need to be dealt with and there is no pretty or ideal way to do it. One thing I can tell you, these children are not the result of bad parenting, although bad parenting can certainly exacerbate the situation.

If this is the case, and I don't doubt that it is, they DON'T belong in the public schools, they belong in an institution.......

doc

Yes I would agree, mainstreaming is a colossal failure.

Is that what it is called....."mainstreaming"...?    Why is it done?   It makes no sense to me to place a person so handicapped that they CANNOT learn effecively in classrooms with students that NEED to learn effectively to function in society......

Our children are grown and gone, so I have no awareness of what is going on in public schools today, but suffice it to say, I would now allow my kids to attend schools where that kind of distraction was a normal event.....

doc

Yes it is. In some cases mainstreaming works well and I think it is actually good for typical children to be educated alongside children who have special needs as it teaches them valuable lessons of compassion. I know that sounds very "liberal-speak", it is actually more a testament to Judeo-Christian philosophy.

The children who are mainstream candidates are ones that are mildly retarded or perhaps have physical disabilities, etc. The severely emotional or behaviorally disturbed kids need to be isolated for their own safety as well as others.

From 1st to 3rd grade there was a kid, Ricky, in my class that was mainstreamed.  I guess he was what would be described as "mildly retarded", and he did not have the use of one arm.  The story was that he fell off the back of a hay wagon, and had a metal plate in his head.  Now that I think back on it, I have no idea if that was true.  As I think of it, he may have had cerebral palsy.  Not sure.

Any way, Ricky was just what most of us kids described as being "slow".  In third grade the teacher had me sit next to him (back when they would rearrange the desks in some kind of "community grouping" rather than just the regular rows (it was the 70's).  So for 1/2 the year I was basically Ricky's assistant teacher.  I was to help him with the day's lessons, help him organize to bring the proper things home for homework, etc.  1/2 way through the year he transferred to a special school and we had a surprise "going away" party for him.  He was sent to run an errand at the principal's office while we readied the room for the party.  I've never seen a kid so happy and touched in my life.

As mean as kids can be, I don't really recall any of them being really mean to Ricky.  It was sort of understood that he was "not right" and we just sort of treated him as such.  I agree with the concept that there was some Judeo-Christian philosophy going on there.  Of course, back then, we had a moment of prayer and a Nativity scene at our Christmas play.  Times were a bit different.

[Chris_]

^Well...being the cynical purist that I am, I would argue that it is not the role of the school system to teach "compassion", I did that in the home and church environments......   It seems to me, notwithstanding classes that are taught SOLELY for handicapped kids, placing them in with others is degrading the overall quality (and speed) of education for the rest......

doc

I would agree, compassion is learned through experiences and by example, not taught in a school.

I hear you on the other points, I have 3 kids, my son has autism. He does not learn things in the same ways other kids learn and for this reason the mainstream fails to educate him. Forcing him into an environment that doesn't suitably teach him makes for some intense behavioral moments and no one is served in that situation.

[Chris_]

Sure there are spoiled brats who lack discipline. But I have firsthand experience with children who do have mental illness or other neurological issues which prevent them from comprehending right and wrong or understanding consequences. Their disability prohibits them from integrating seamlessly into society.

They need to be dealt with and there is no pretty or ideal way to do it. One thing I can tell you, these children are not the result of bad parenting, although bad parenting can certainly exacerbate the situation.

If this is the case, and I don't doubt that it is, they DON'T belong in the public schools, they belong in an institution.......

doc

Yes I would agree, mainstreaming is a colossal failure.

Is that what it is called....."mainstreaming"...?    Why is it done?   It makes no sense to me to place a person so handicapped that they CANNOT learn effecively in classrooms with students that NEED to learn effectively to function in society......

Our children are grown and gone, so I have no awareness of what is going on in public schools today, but suffice it to say, I would now allow my kids to attend schools where that kind of distraction was a normal event.....

doc

Yes it is. In some cases mainstreaming works well and I think it is actually good for typical children to be educated alongside children who have special needs as it teaches them valuable lessons of compassion. I know that sounds very "liberal-speak", it is actually more a testament to Judeo-Christian philosophy.

The children who are mainstream candidates are ones that are mildly retarded or perhaps have physical disabilities, etc. The severely emotional or behaviorally disturbed kids need to be isolated for their own safety as well as others.

From 1st to 3rd grade there was a kid, Ricky, in my class that was mainstreamed.  I guess he was what would be described as "mildly retarded", and he did not have the use of one arm.  The story was that he fell off the back of a hay wagon, and had a metal plate in his head.  Now that I think back on it, I have no idea if that was true.  As I think of it, he may have had cerebral palsy.  Not sure.

Any way, Ricky was just what most of us kids described as being "slow".  In third grade the teacher had me sit next to him (back when they would rearrange the desks in some kind of "community grouping" rather than just the regular rows (it was the 70's).  So for 1/2 the year I was basically Ricky's assistant teacher.  I was to help him with the day's lessons, help him organize to bring the proper things home for homework, etc.  1/2 way through the year he transferred to a special school and we had a surprise "going away" party for him.  He was sent to run an errand at the principal's office while we readied the room for the party.  I've never seen a kid so happy and touched in my life.

As mean as kids can be, I don't really recall any of them being really mean to Ricky.  It was sort of understood that he was "not right" and we just sort of treated him as such.  I agree with the concept that there was some Judeo-Christian philosophy going on there.  Of course, back then, we had a moment of prayer and a Nativity scene at our Christmas play.  Times were a bit different.

What a great story. As a mom to a Ricky-like child, I can tell you that his family will always appreciate the kindness and support you showed their son.

[DixieBelle]

The problem is that everyone walks on eggshells and no one wants to correctly classify children who may need to be in a different setting. My MIL taught for 30 years. My husband taught for two years before going back to college to obtain a second degree in computer science. He saw how political correctness had taken hold. It's a shame that he felt like he would never be able to make a difference because of the P.C. crowd. The students he would have taught missed out on a brilliant man.

As a society, we tend to overcorrect. Formerly marginalized students are now suddenly promoted to their level of incompetence and it becomes meaningless and detrimental to everyone else when they are mainstreamed.

Don't get me wrong, this is not a condemnation of the system or a wish to return to the past. I truly believe that a lot of kids with special needs thrive in a mainstream enviornment and as a society, we owe them that if they are ever to contribute meaningfully beyond their school years.

What I hate is the P.C. crowd that spouts garbage. I hate the inane policies that tell us we cannot punish children properly and that things like hugs and playground games are banned. It's just insane. Schools are nothing more than factories for growing little Socialists. Then again, I'm against government run education.

[Ptarmigan]

This whole self-esteem movement is what is ruining America. People are less risk adverse as a result of it. People do not want to fail or be offended. That is why sports are not scored for one and everyone gets trophy. Everyone is somehow special. The self-esteem movement is intertwined with the PC insanity. 

I see why Lori Drew caused Megan Meier to commit suicide. She felt her daughter was special and her self-esteem was being damaged by Megan. Lori Drew is one of those parents obessessed with self-esteem and a sociopath like Charles Manson or Saddam Hussein.

[Ptarmigan]

She broke the cop's nose. Those whining about her being tasered should be happy the cops didn't subdue her with their night sticks. I've asked a few friends in law enforcement about the idiotic rule that they must be tased to be allowed to carry a taser and everyone says it hurts like hell, but, ONLY when it is ON.

Gees, the cop's nose got broken. That's a felony right there.