A Wisconsin teen has filed a lawsuit against a local sheriff’s department after they threatened to arrest her for posting a selfie along with a caption about coronavirus online.
According to the New York Post, 16-year-old Amyiah Cohoon traveled to Florida for spring break and started experiencing symptoms after visiting Disney World and Universal Studios with her band class on March 7. Cohoon’s symptoms worsened after she came back home on March 15 and was taken to Divine Savior Hospital on March 22 due to having respiratory issues.
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During her stay at the hospital, Cohoon posted a selfie while wearing an oxygen mask and captioned it “I am still on breathing treatment but have beaten the coronavirus. Stay home and be safe”. The March 26 post caught the attention of the Marquette County Sheriff’s Department, leading up to Patrol Sergent Cameron Klump to issue a warning to Cohoon’s parents at their home the following day. He said he had direct orders from Sheriff Joseph Konrath demanding that the teen remove the post or face jail for disorderly conduct.
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A statement was released by Konrath’s attorney said his client acted in good faith and said her photo caption caused “distress and panic” among the school district:
“Her messages caused distress and panic within the school system and law enforcement acted at the request of school health officials in a good faith effort to avoid unfounded panic,”
The family’s lawsuit is seeking nominal damages and the case “is about preserving the right to share our experiences with each other during this difficult time.” It also states that the photo was posted hours Amyiah was discharged from the hospital.