The Latest: Advocates, school system respond to slam video
ROLESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — The Latest on the North Carolina high school student slammed to the ground by a police officer (all times local):
5:55 p.m.
As a disturbing video renews student advocates' concerns about disciplinary practices in North Carolina's largest school district, a spokeswoman for the district says officials there are also concerned.
Wake County school system spokeswoman Lisa Luten's comments came after several advocacy groups renewed their request for federal officials to investigate disciplinary practices in the schools. Their push came after a video posted on social media showed an officer at Rolesville High School lifting and dropping a student on the floor Tuesday.
The coalition wrote Thursday to the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. Their original complaint filed in September 2010 says Wake County schools discriminate racially when they mete out discipline.
Luten says school system officials acknowledge disparities. She points to higher graduation rates and reduced suspensions as two signs of improvement.
___
4:50 p.m.
After a video showed a police officer slamming a student to the ground at a North Carolina high school, advocates for young people are asking federal officials again to respond to a complaint they originally filed more than six years ago.
A coalition of groups that includes Legal Aid of North Carolina sent a letter dated Thursday to the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, renewing concerns about the treatment of students in Wake County schools. The original complaint filed in September 2010 says Wake County schools discriminate racially when they mete out discipline.
A video posted on social media shows an officer at Rolesville High School lifting and dropping a student on her left side.
A Wake County schools spokeswoman didn't immediately respond to questions about the complaint.
___
1:25 p.m.
The attorney for a girl who was slammed to the floor by a police officer in a North Carolina high school says the student has suffered a concussion and may have other related health issues.
Attorney Freddy Rabner of Pittsburgh said Thursday that Jasmine Darwin is having headaches, vision problems and other issues associated with a concussion. He says she's still being evaluated by doctors.
A video posted on social media shows an officer at Rolesville High School in Wake County lifting and dropping Darwin on her left side, then pulling her to her feet and leading her away. The teen who recorded the incident had said two girls had been fighting Tuesday, including Darwin's sister, and that Darwin was trying to break up the fight.
Town officials in Rolesville say the officer, Ruben De Los Santos, was placed on paid administrative leave.
____
6:10 a.m.
As two girls fought in the cafeteria area of a North Carolina high school, another student raised her cellphone to make a video. She sparked a furor when she captured a police officer picking up and slamming down a student to the floor.
The 15-year-old who shared her video on social media says the Rolesville High School student who was slammed down was trying to break up the fight.
Ahunna Akpuda recorded a brief video Tuesday. The officer lifts and drops a girl on her left side, then pulls her to her feet and leads her away. Akpuda said two girls had been fighting, including the sister of the girl who was slammed to the floor.
Town officials say the officer, Ruben De Los Santos, was placed on paid administrative leave.
