In a “serious” incident at Firestone Community Learning Center, two Akron police officers on Wednesday morning used force on a minor student before leading the high schooler away in handcuffs.
The male student was going through the school’s metal detectors and continued to set off alarms after emptying his pockets, said Akron school board member Barbara Sykes. It’s not immediately clear how the incident escalated into a situation that resulted in the use of force by the officers involved.
Numerous students entering the school witnessed the incident.
The incident was confirmed by Sykes and Akron Mayor Shammas Malik on Saturday. The officers were not wearing body cameras, but security cameras inside the school captured the incident.
It’s unknown if the student sustained any injuries. It’s also unclear if the student was arrested, or if Akron police will be present at the Firestone CLC on Monday.
Malik was told about the incident shortly after it occurred on Wednesday morning. He said he watched the video and has been trying to gather more information about the incident from Akron Public Schools.
“It’s a serious incident and we want to take it seriously and share all the information we can with the community,” Malik said on Saturday.
The school district uses Akron police officers as school resource officers to assist with security on APS property — they are sworn law enforcement officers and do not work directly for the school district.
Because Sykes had not seen the video, she said she could not discuss the details of what happened, except to say the student was led away in handcuffs.
The board member also said the district brought in counselors to talk to Firestone students to help them process the experience.
“I’m not interested in keeping anything private,” Sykes said on Saturday. “I expect the tape to be released. By Monday, the board needs to know what happened with this.”
The mayor’s office is planning a Monday morning press conference to share more information as well as announce the next steps in the city’s recently announced use-of-force policy review.
APD’s use of force under scrutiny since Jayland Walker killing
The Akron Police Department has recently come under fire for its use of force, including the 2022 shooting of Jayland Walker and a January incident in which an officer body slammed an unarmed woman who was seeking assistance from police.
“Use of force” is described by the International Association of Chiefs of Police as the “amount of effort required by police to compel compliance by an unwilling subject.” There is no universally agreed-upon definition, according to the National Institute of Justice’s website.
Use-of-force incidents by Akron Police officers automatically trigger internal investigations into whether or not the force used was reasonable under the circumstances encountered by the officers involved.
APS spokesperson confirms Firestone incident with Akron police, declines further comment
Angela Carter, the chief of staff for Akron Public Schools, acknowledged an incident occurred at Firestone, but declined to comment further.
“I need to get all the information and details before I start sharing information,” Carter told Signal Akron. “Then I need to make sure everything is solid on our side as it relates to protection of the student and others that were involved in the incident.”
The Akron Police Department’s spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment sent early Saturday afternoon. No other school board members responded to phone calls Saturday afternoon seeking comment.