GRAND RAPIDS, MI Feb 20 2013 – A school security video is telling a much different story than the mother of a Grand Rapids Public Schools student, who alleged that two school security guards slammed her daughter against a locker, school officials say.
Larry Johnson, the district’s assistant superintendent and director of public safety, said the alleged incident took place last week at Riverside Middle School after a female student offered to school officials voluntarily cell phone video of a fight near Palmer Elementary School last week.
The student, whom Johnson declined to identify, turned over her cell phone to two female school security guards as evidence of the fight in which two middle school boys were attacking a third male student, Johnson said.
After surrendering her cell phone to Riverside security authorities, the girl then tried to grab back her phone after being told it would be used as evidence of the fight. That’s when things got ugly as the girl backed into a set of lockers, though her mother is alleging the two female security guards forced her daughter against the lockers.
“If we release the video, and I would like to, it’s going to show a whole different perspective,” said Johnson, adding he’s seen the security video. “I’m quite confident it will exonerate our security guards.”
Johnson said it will be up to the district’s legal counsel to determine whether the security video will be released.
The phone has since been handed over to a Grand Rapids Police detective investigating the fight and the alleged assault of the female student. Johnson said the school security guards had every right to keep the girl’s cell phone once she offered it as evidence.
“If you surrender something and it’s evidence, we’re going to keep it,” Johnson said.
“One of the security guards was involved in a disciplinary incident with another child from the same family within the past three years.”
District spokesman John Helmholdt said the security guards remain on the job as a police investigation and another internal investigation being conducted by the school district continue.
He added the security guards could be suspended if they are found to have acted inappropriately.
“If there is wrong-doing, an employee could face up to suspension,” Helmholdt said.
Larry Johnson, the district’s assistant superintendent and director of public safety, said the alleged incident took place last week at Riverside Middle School after a female student offered to school officials voluntarily cell phone video of a fight near Palmer Elementary School last week.
The student, whom Johnson declined to identify, turned over her cell phone to two female school security guards as evidence of the fight in which two middle school boys were attacking a third male student, Johnson said.
After surrendering her cell phone to Riverside security authorities, the girl then tried to grab back her phone after being told it would be used as evidence of the fight. That’s when things got ugly as the girl backed into a set of lockers, though her mother is alleging the two female security guards forced her daughter against the lockers.
“If we release the video, and I would like to, it’s going to show a whole different perspective,” said Johnson, adding he’s seen the security video. “I’m quite confident it will exonerate our security guards.”
Johnson said it will be up to the district’s legal counsel to determine whether the security video will be released.
The phone has since been handed over to a Grand Rapids Police detective investigating the fight and the alleged assault of the female student. Johnson said the school security guards had every right to keep the girl’s cell phone once she offered it as evidence.
“If you surrender something and it’s evidence, we’re going to keep it,” Johnson said.
“One of the security guards was involved in a disciplinary incident with another child from the same family within the past three years.”
District spokesman John Helmholdt said the security guards remain on the job as a police investigation and another internal investigation being conducted by the school district continue.
He added the security guards could be suspended if they are found to have acted inappropriately.
“If there is wrong-doing, an employee could face up to suspension,” Helmholdt said.