Florida police officer fired after arresting pair of 6-year-olds [View all]

[Judi Lynn]

Last edited Tue Sep 24, 2019, 12:35 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: CBS/AP

UPDATED ON: SEPTEMBER 23, 2019 / 7:20 PM / CBS/AP

Authorities say a Florida police officer has been fired and is being investigated after arresting two six-year-olds for separate incidents at their schools. CBS Orlando affiliate WKMG-TV reports that Officer Dennis Turner was previously suspended pending the outcome of an internal investigation by the Orlando Police Department.


The arrests were on unrelated misdemeanor charges, authorities said. All charges against the children have since been dropped. Police clarified Monday that both of the children were 6 after initially describing one of them as 8 years old.

The department's policy requires an officer to get the approval of a watch commander before arresting anyone under age 12. WKMG-TV said that didn't happen during last Thursday's arrests.

One of the children was processed at the Juvenile Assessment Center before being released to a family member. The child's gender wasn't released, nor was the reason for the arrest. The other 6-year-old was returned to her school from the juvenile center and wasn't processed, after a transport officer found out approval wasn't obtained.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/6-year-olds-arrested-in-florida-orlando-police-officer-dennis-turner-suspended-after-incident/

---

On edit:

In this space I originally posted a photo of the wrong officer. Very sorry to have managed that so poorly. Haven't had the problem before, was surprised it happened here.

Thanks for the consideration and the kindness from the poster who cautioned me. Greatly appreciated.