The family of a 12-year-old girl who suffered a traumatic brain injury after a school security officer restrained her in an illegal chokehold has filed a lawsuit against the Kenosha Police Department and school district.
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On March 4, 2022, school security officer Shawn Guetschow placed his knee on the back of a 12-year-old girl at Lincoln Middle School after attempting to break up a fight in the school’s cafeteria. Surveillance footage showed Guetschow kneeling on the back of her neck for 25 seconds before handcuffing her and taking her out of the area. According to Insider, documents from the family’s attorney, Drew DeVinney, said the officer claimed he “blacked out” while restraining the girl and doesn’t remember the incident.
“Officer Shawn Guetschow told investigating officers that he ‘blacked out’ and does not remember pulling Jane Doe to the floor, smashing her head into the hard tile surface, or getting on top of her and choking her with his knee.”
The girl’s father said in a statement after the video went viral that officer Guetschow treated his daughter like a felon during the incident.
“That man treated my daughter like she was a felon. Like she was an armed felon. She’s 12 years old. No weapon in her hand. There was no reason for that force through his knee on her neck. When I saw that video, that’s all I seen. That’s all I could think about was George Floyd. Just imagine if he stayed on her neck a few more seconds or a minute, and he would have killed my daughter. This cannot keep happening,”
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Documents state the family plans to sue the Kenosha Unified School District, officer Guetschow, and the police department. They are seeking damages for the TBI sustained during the incident and the girl is also being charged with an unknown crime related to the incident.
“By pursuing charges against Jane Doe, the Kenosha Police Department is attempting to criminalize an innocent child to justify the unjustifiable,” the document shared with Insider read. “We fear this is a concerted effort to silence a victim of police brutality and to deflect blame. Jane Doe is an innocent victim and will defend herself against these baseless charges.”
Originally, the girl was arrested as a juvenile and charged with disorderly conduct. She did not return to the school and officer Guetschow was placed on paid leave due to the investigation at the time.
Currently, Guetschow still works for the Kenosha Police Department but he resigned from his position at the school.
“Given the events that have taken place and the escalated attention this incident at Lincoln Middle School has caused in the community, mental and emotional strain it has bought (sic) upon my family, and the lack of communication and or support I have received from the district, I can no longer continue my employment with the Kenosha Unified School District,” his resignation letter reads.