Six-year-old handcuffed, arrested for temper tantrum

[Lizzie Poppet]

31. If allowed by policy, that might have been a better response.

Given the statements made by the parents after the incident, I have a feeling calling them would have been useless - it sounds like the little girl was used to getting what she wanted via throwing tantrums (although I realize I'm speculating here). But calling medical personnel might have been a good idea. The paramedics might have been a bit put out if it was indeed just a severe "brat reaction," but the possibility of it being a medical condition seems real enough. They are also trained to restrain uncooperative or pain-maddened patients and would be presumed to know how to restrain the kid without injuring her.

However, the district might well have had a policy in place to call the police in situations where a student is behaving in a manner dangerous to themselves and others and refuses verbals commands to stop. I don't know what that particular district's policy is.