6-year-old girl handcuffed by police over ‘tantrum’

It's been quite the day for 6-year-olds in the news. Earlier, we told you about the courageous, 6-year-old Texas boy who has already raised $10,000 for his Dad's cancer treatment.

In less positive news, a 6-year-old girl in Georgia was handcuffed by police and charged with assault after throwing a "tantrum" in her elementary school. Local tv affiliate 13WMAZ reports that Salecia Johnson, who is in kindergarten, was detained by police after her alleged outburst.

"Our policy is that any detainee transported to our station in a patrol vehicle is to be handcuffed in the back. There is no age discrimination on that rule," Milledgeville Chief of Police Dray Swicord, told the station.

Swicord said the officer who handcuffed Johnson is not facing an investigation over his actions. Swicord added that Johnson was handcuffed for her safety as well as the safety of others. She was taken to the principal's office after pushing two other students, according to a police report.

"The student was never placed in a holding cell or jail cell and the student's safety was of the utmost importance," Swicord said.

However, Johnson's parents are trying to organize a community protest against the officer's actions, including reported plans to contact civil rights activist and MSNBC host Al Sharpton.

The officer's police report says Johnson began tearing items off the school principal's office walls and was throwing furniture. The report says Johnson knocked over a shelf that injured the principal.

Johnson also was reportedly biting a doorknob and attempting to break a glass frame while jumping on top of a paper shredder.

"She has mood swings some days, which all of us had mood swings some days," Johnson's mother Constance Ruff told WMAZ. "I guess that was just one of her bad days."

After Johnson was handcuffed, she was taken to the local police station and charged with simple assault and damage to property. However, because of her young age, Johnson will reportedly not be prosecuted.

"A 6-year-old in kindergarten. They don't have no business calling the police and handcuffing my child," said Earnest Johnson, Salecia's father.

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