NEW ORLEANS EAST—
In May ABC26 was first to tell you about a first grade student handcuffed and shackled in a New Orleans East school. The story got national attention. Now, a lawsuit has been filed in the case. ABC26 News Reporter Vanessa Bolano has the update.A frustrated father, Sebastian Weston, says, "This must stop. This must stop now! Our children are not animals and should not be treated this way."
Two months after 6-year-old Ja'Briel Weston was handcuffed and shackled at Sarah T. Reed Elementary School his parents are fighting back. A class action lawsuit has been flied on behalf of all students at the school. The lawsuit has been filed against Recovery School District Superintendent Paul Vallas, Director of School Security Eddie Compass, and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Principal of Reed Elementary School and two Public Safety Officers. The lawsuit seeks an overhaul of public safety policies and procedures.
Attorney Thena Robinson says, "The act of forcibly restraining a young child and shackling them to a piece of furniture isn't just inhumane." She calls the act a violation of state and federal law.
As for Ja'Briel Weston's parents, they think handcuffing their 6-year-old for arguing with another first grader over a chair was unreasonable.
Mother Robin Weston questions herself saying, "My husband and I have struggled with whether we could have done more to prevent this incident from happening."
We spoke to ja'briel in May. Describing the pain felt by the handcuffs he said, "It was tight like this."
Mom and Dad say they found out only after their son complained of a sore wrist, and then learned it had happened more than once.
Mr. Weston says, "These incidents, where our little boy was treated more like an animal than a young child, have affected him greatly. I'm very sad."
Ja'Briel's parents say they're not sure where their son will be attending school this Fall, because they say the idea has him terrified. In the meantime, his attorneys say Ja'Briel is under the care of mental health professionals.
After breaking the story in May, a security guard at Sarah T. Reed Elementary was fired. The Recovery School District says, in all, two employees have been fired, and that the district does not condone handcuffing students.
