Incident at Firestone Community Learning Center: Akron Police Under Scrutiny After Student Confrontation

A “serious” incident at Firestone Community Learning Center is under investigation after two Akron police officers used force on a minor student. The event, which occurred Wednesday morning, involved officers confronting a high school student inside the school as he passed through metal detectors.

According to Akron school board member Barbara Sykes, the student triggered the metal detectors repeatedly, even after emptying his pockets. The situation then escalated, leading to the officers using force before escorting the student away in handcuffs. The exact nature of the escalation at Firestone Community Learning Center remains unclear.

Numerous students witnessed the event as they entered Firestone Community Learning Center, raising concerns within the school community. The incident was confirmed on Saturday by both Sykes and Akron Mayor Shammas Malik. Notably, the officers involved were not equipped with body cameras, but security cameras within Firestone Community Learning Center captured the interaction.

Details regarding potential student injuries or whether an arrest was made are currently unknown. It is also uncertain if Akron police will maintain a presence at Firestone Community Learning Center when school resumes on Monday.

Mayor Malik stated he was informed of the incident shortly after it occurred and has reviewed the security footage. He is currently seeking further information from Akron Public Schools regarding the events at Firestone Community Learning Center.

“It’s a serious incident and we want to take it seriously and share all the information we can with the community,” Malik said, emphasizing the city’s commitment to transparency.

Akron Public Schools utilizes Akron police officers as school resource officers to bolster security across school properties. These officers are sworn law enforcement officials but are not directly employed by the school district.

Board member Sykes, who has not yet viewed the video, refrained from discussing specific details, but confirmed the student was taken away in handcuffs from Firestone Community Learning Center. She also mentioned that counselors were made available to Firestone students to help them process what they witnessed.

“I’m not interested in keeping anything private,” Sykes stated, indicating a desire for transparency. “I expect the tape to be released. By Monday, the board needs to know what happened with this.”

The mayor’s office has scheduled a press conference for Monday morning to disclose more information and outline the next steps concerning the city’s recently announced review of its use-of-force policy. This review was initiated prior to the Firestone Community Learning Center incident.

Akron Police Department’s Use of Force History

The Akron Police Department has faced increased scrutiny regarding its use of force, particularly following the fatal shooting of Jayland Walker in 2022. Additionally, a recent incident in January, where an officer body-slammed an unarmed woman seeking police assistance, further intensified public attention on police conduct.

The International Association of Chiefs of Police defines “use of force” as “the amount of effort required by police to compel compliance by an unwilling subject.” The National Institute of Justice notes that there is no universally accepted definition.

Incidents involving Akron Police officers’ use of force automatically trigger internal investigations to assess whether the force employed was justified under the circumstances. The incident at Firestone Community Learning Center will likely undergo similar scrutiny.

School District Acknowledges Incident at Firestone Community Learning Center

Angela Carter, chief of staff for Akron Public Schools, confirmed that an incident occurred at Firestone Community Learning Center. However, she declined to provide further details at this time.

“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.”

As of Saturday afternoon, the Akron Police Department spokesperson had not responded to requests for comment. Similarly, other school board members contacted for comment have not yet responded. The community awaits further details regarding the incident at Firestone Community Learning Center and the findings of any internal reviews.

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