The lawsuit claims a school resource officer used excessive force while breaking up a fight, causing severe injuries.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ A parent filed a federal lawsuit against Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police and the city of Charlotte, claiming their student was dragged, slammed to the ground and handcuffed by a school resource officer.ย
According to documents obtained by WCNC Charlotte, the incident happened at Hawthorne Academy in 2023. It allegedly started with a verbal confrontation between students.ย
The plaintiff claims the situation escalated when a resource officer, named in the lawsuit as Chris Grant, stepped in to break up the argument. The lawsuit alleges that Grant used excessive force, causing injuries to the student, accusing him of slamming her head to the ground and smashing her face into a table. The lawsuit claims the child suffered a nosebleed and other injuries from Grant’s force. He’s also accused of threatening the student with a stun gun.ย
The lawsuit claims that even after the situation was over, Grant refused to remove the handcuffs while the student was in the nurse’s office. Two school employees, Sharon Bracy and Angela McKenzie, allegedly requested that Grant remove the handcuffs. Both employees are named as defendants in the suit.ย
The lawsuit claims the school failed to notify the student’s parent about her daughter’s injuries and she had to find out what happened from a third party. The lawsuit also alleges that Grant wasn’t wearing a body camera during the incident or it wasn’t turned on.ย
CMS shared a statement with WCNC Charlotte on Thursday, saying the district won’t comment on pending litigation.ย
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