In a deeply unsettling incident captured on body-cam, a six-year-old girl named Mia is seen crying as a school resource officer secures her hands with zip ties. This shocking event took place in September 2019 at the Bright Future Academy, a charter school in Orlando, Florida. The officer in question, Officer Jim Harris, was dismissed after arresting Mia for a minor outburst that involved striking a few staff members. The distressing video has recently come to light, and it raises serious questions about the treatment of young children in schools.
According to reports from the Orlando Chronicle, Officer Harris was called to the scene after Mia had a meltdown. However, the footage shows her calmly seated in an office while a staff member reads to her when Officer Harris arrives. Due to her small size, handcuffs were deemed inappropriate, leading the officer to use zip ties instead. “What are those for?” Mia asks, her voice trembling. “They’re for you,” Harris responds, as Mia desperately pleads, “No, don’t put those on! Help me, help me, please!”
With her wrists restrained, Officer Harris and another officer escort Mia to a police vehicle, intended to take her to a local Juvenile Assessment Center. “Please, give me a second chance,” she sobs, highlighting the traumatic nature of the situation. After completing the arrest paperwork, a staff member questioned the necessity of the restraints, to which Officer Harris insisted they were warranted. He even boasted about having arrested over 6,000 individuals throughout his career, noting that Mia had set a record as his youngest arrest.
Following an internal review, Officer Harris was terminated for violating arrest protocols, and the charges against Mia were dropped the following day. State attorney Linda Marsh stated, “I will not support any actions that contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline, regardless of age.” Unfortunately, it was revealed that Officer Harris had a history of disciplinary issues, including unsafe driving and prior allegations of misconduct.
Mia’s grandmother, Clara Thompson, expressed her heartbreak upon viewing the footage, saying, “I always felt they were wrong, but to see her begging for help was devastating. I watched my baby break.” Mia has since transferred to a private school that has chosen not to employ police officers on its premises.
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In summary, the disturbing body-cam footage of Officer Harris restraining six-year-old Mia raises significant concerns about how schools handle behavioral issues among young children. The event’s aftermath highlights the urgent need for reform in school policies regarding discipline and the involvement of law enforcement.
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