Ryan Turk, a Virginia middle school student, was handcuffed and suspended from school over a 65-cent carton of milk.
Turk is a part of Graham Park Middle School’s free lunch program and returned to the line to get his milk, which he said he’d forgotten. When he went back, a police officer accused him of stealing. Turk was handcuffed, taken to the principal’s office and searched for drugs, his mother said.
Police say Turk became disorderly, which is why he was cuffed. Turk admitted to pulling back. His mother said the officer let the situation get out of hand over 65-cents.
Shamise Turk told CBS News 6, “I’m angry, I’m frustrated, I’m mad. It just went too far. They are charging him with larceny, which I don’t have no understanding as to why he is being charged with larceny when he was entitled to that milk from the beginning.”
The teen is charged with larceny and a school spokesperson said he is suspended for theft, being disrespectful and using his cell phone in school.
“The need for disciplinary action is determined by how a student behaves throughout any given incident,” the school spokesperson said. “An appeals process is in place to ensure the fairness of any disciplinary action.”
Watch the full news story.
Do you think this could have been handled differently? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section.
