Kindergartner, 6, arrested and charged with battery for kicking principal

sara1981

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Kindergartner, 6, arrested and charged with battery for kicking principal
Kindergartner, 6, arrested and charged with battery for kicking principal - Crimesider - CBS News

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. - A 6-year-old kindergartner was arrested after police say he kicked his Indiana school principal.

According to CBS Cleveland, Shelbyville police were called to Hendricks Elementary School last week after the child physically assaulted principal Pat Lumbley.

According to a police report obtained by CBS Cleveland, the boy* also threatened to kill school officials. Police say when they arrived,* the child was kicking and screaming on the floor. He was then taken into custody .

Assistant principal Jessica Poe led the student to a police car where an officer placed him in the back seat, buckled him in and drove him to the police department, the report said. He was not handcuffed.

The child had recently come back to school after being suspended for hitting and biting a school official, CBS Cleveland reported.

"This was not an isolated incident," Shelbyville Police Lieutenant Michael Turner said.

"In the big picture ... I have to look at school safety and have to look at student safety," Lumbley said.

Lumbley said the district will take care of the child's education for the remainder of the school year.

"We hate this for Hendricks Elementary, hate this for Shelbyville, that this was the news and to be honest with you, I hate it for the family," Lumbley said. "I hate it for the family because they are nice people and they are really working and want what's best for the child."

Lt. Turner said he hoped the filing of juvenile charges would help get the child needed help.

"Putting him into the system can open up avenues perhaps the parents don't have," Turner said.
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What you thought this story?!?
 
In some respects I do not see how this will help a 6 year old. But then, I don't know enough about that kind of situation.

I do know that in my case, I myself did not know of some services available to either my family or for my daughter when I needed them, and it took a neighbor calling DFS on me to get that help. I was not charged with anything and was offered all kinds of sympathy. Neighbor apologized quite profusely.
 
I think if it is the only way to get the child into an appropriate program, they probably did the right thing.
 
I think that clearly this child has behavioral issues, and where they stem from I don't know. The school district should be evaluating this child, and help provide this student with what he needs to benefit from his education and not be a disruption to others.

Ridiculous that this child was arrested. He clearly needs help. Perhaps suspended from
School for 2 weeks, with a plan of action for this student to take when he feels himself getting frustrated or angry. I think arresting him was a big mistake.

Edit to add: The school district should have evaluated this child, as they were aware of the issue. Nothing in that article says the district took any course of action to evaluate where these outbursts were stemming from.
 
Horrible, I just can't believe they didn't have resources in-house to calm the child down, call parents, etc. How terrifying the trip to the police station must have been, the whole strange process. Arrested? Would have thought a doctor more appropriate if he was having such a bad spell.

I have a 6 year old -- impossible to imagine this scenario as being in any way positive, that just breaks my heart.
 
I guess kicking the principal in the shin crippled him enough to press charges?
 
I'm interested in what the outcome will be. The way I see it, the school district was negligent.
 
sorry looks like it got here twice
 
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I just cannot leave this alone
From under the “Photo” of Mrs. J. Poe, Assistant Principal
"If a student fails, the student has not failed, we have failed the student."
I would guess that is her moto, and I am sure the one under the “missing” photo would read “if they cannot get it then off to jail”. Maybe he said I have an idea lets kick it around.
 
Well I guess that child will be serving life. What has happened to this world where “adults” and I really am using that word loosely here cannot handle the inherent problems that come with children. Sure they kick, bite, and spit. So do Lamas. They are there to learn and I am sure the other children are wondering “Wow! Arrested for kicking the principal what happens when we get caught cheating on a test, death penalty? Be careful going to that school and signing they might interpret it and aggressive moves and taser you. I am sure this child was smaller than the principal. I have been kicked before but maybe I am more of a “man” than he is. LOL I went to the school site and “Principal: W. Patrick Lumbley” does not have his photo up. How about it tough guy. Someone please knock me off my soapbox. About 2 years ago in Colorado (not sure of the town) 2 big officers had to taser a grade school child to subdue him, I think he was 8. I am 104 pounds, come on, these “men” cannot handle children. OK I stop now before I use words unbecoming someone who works with children.
 
I'm on two sides of the fence about this.

One one hand, something NEEDED to be done. The child obviously has emotional issues that need to be addressed before he's big enough to actually injure someone while in one of his rages. Maybe this will be what it takes to get him that help.

On the other hand, there has to have been a better way to handle it. He is just a 6 year old and the adults should have control over a situation. When they are that young, control doesn't have to be handcuffs and a police car.

This should have been dealt with, but dealt with way differently. I hope this doesn't scar him for life.
 
I've seen little kids kick their parents...or the dog...or whatever in a fit of rage. Of course, it's shocking. One friend said her small boy had a "high temper like his Dad".....Surely, the kid needs help, perhaps coping skills to deal with his anger....and there are many Residential Treatment Centers for that.

But to arrest/handcuff a small child at age 6?...No way!...There should have been a meeting with the parents/teachers/principal about the child's behavior, and the appropriate steps to take to somewhat remedy the situation....So perhaps the Parents did not know what avenue to take to help their son....at least, I hope the little boy will now get some treatment.
 
My son , like my brother, had extreme anger issues. We tried talking with my son over and over when he was little. When we lived in Missouri, we were in a mobile home and the walls were vinyl wrapped wallboard. Very thin (1/4 inch think). As we stressed no hitting or kicking of people or animals, he started punching and kicking his walls. At the end of about 4 years, he finally got it all under control and had a better handle on it, he had no walls left on the interior of his bedroom. He is 16 (17 on 5/19) and has not had a temper tantrum now in 4 years. When he feels like he's about to explode, he goes for a walk. After we get our house built, he has asked for a boxing type punching bag.
 
The thing is though, the school district clearly knew this was an issue- yet they did nothing about it. The SD was remiss in not assessing the student appropriately, and by failing to provide him with the support and services he needs to function in school/within society.
 
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