WEST HARTFORD -- It was a busy day (June 17) at Conard High School Thursday, what with the release of scores of crickets in the cafeteria as a senior prank and the arrest of student council president Francisco Acevedo Jr., after he video-recorded what he said was excessive use of force by a police officer in the midst of the chaos.
[Acevedo said he focused on Parizo when he saw the officer, who was trying to make his way through the crowd, "shoving the kid around." The 17-year-old was trying to push Parizo's hands away, Acevedo said.
Acevedo said it appeared Parizo was starting to pull his baton out of its holster. At that point, Acevedo said, he told Parizo: "I've got you on tape. I'm videotaping this and you're using force on this kid. Chill out." At that point, Acevedo said, Zytka yelled at him to put away the camera.]
School officials told Acevedo he was being suspended for disrespect and insubordination because he challenged Vice Principal Irene Zytka's order that he put his camera away. Acevedo said he put the camera away, then told Zytka, "I have every right to record the police using force and it seemed like he was going to beat him up," according to the affidavit filed in federal court.
Acevedo was charged with breach of peace and interfering with a police officer. He and the other student were handcuffed at the school, taken to the police station in the back of a cruiser, fingerprinted and booked. Acevedo said he was in a cell for about two hours before being released.
"Police do not have to take someone into custody for a misdemeanor," (attorney, Jon) Schoenhorn said. "In my opinion it was done in retribution for the videotaping."
~Police officers don't like being photographed in the performance of their duly-sworn duties of keeping the peace. But how about that Vice Principal Irene Zytka? What's it in for her allowing the cop to brain one of her students? Cops are cops and to be pitied more than scorned, but WTF teacher!?
>update: 6/22/06
Suspended Student (Council President) Allowed to Walk at Graduation
During testimony, (Vice-principal Irene) Zytka repeatedly contended that Acevedo continued to loudly argue with her and that she had never been spoken to in that fashion by a student before.
...school officials agreed to shorten Acevedo's suspension from five to three days, allowing him to walk with his class Wednesday night.
In exchange, Acevedo was required to do 10 hours of community service and to make a one-sentence statement: "I acknowledge that at some point during my encounter with Dr. Zytka that my actions were inappropriate."
~The kid with the camera got excited, over-reacted. He'll learn never to threaten police with a camera when they're hard at work restoring order and he should have known not to use that tone of voice on a person with Vice-Principal's Zytka's education and obvious breeding. Case-closed.
Posted by Stubbornson at June 30, 2006 02:14 PM