Security Guard Forces Student to Duct Tape Mouth
An 11-year-old student at a Pasadena middle school was compelled by a security officer to seal her mouth with duct tape because she was talking loudly and giggling during a lunch break, as reported by the girl’s father. The Pasadena Unified School District terminated the security officer’s employment upon learning of the incident, and the student’s family has lodged a formal complaint with the police.
“The safety and well-being of our students are our utmost priority,” stated the district. “While we are unable to comment on ongoing legal matters, we treat concerns like this with great seriousness and are fully cooperating with the Pasadena Police Department. We are dedicated to upholding a safe and nurturing environment for our students.”
During the incident, Noemi Hurtado was sitting with her friends at Blair Middle School when a female security officer instructed her to reduce her volume. According to the girl’s father, Ricardo Hurtado, the security officer disciplined his daughter for being too loud and playful with her friends during a recess between classes. Hurtado mentioned that his sixth-grade daughter was engaging in typical behavior for her age.
The security officer, who remains unidentified by the district, allegedly compelled the student to tape her mouth shut, as recounted by Hurtado. Media outlet KTLA confirmed the principal’s acknowledgment of the occurrence. Subsequently, the security officer escorted the student back to her classroom. Inside the classroom, the security officer instructed the teacher not to remove the tape from the student’s mouth, claiming she was still causing disruptions, Hurtado stated. The school’s security head intervened at this point and escorted the student to the principal’s office.
Hurtado stated that the head security officer assured his daughter she was not in trouble. The student has since resumed attending school, according to Hurtado. On Thursday, the family filed a police report against the security officer. The Pasadena Police Department confirmed the filing of a police report but directed inquiries regarding the matter to the Pasadena Unified School District.
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