In a disturbing incident that unfolded at Freedom Elementary School on February 15, 2022, an 8-year-old boy, identified as J.D., diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, was allegedly subjected to excessive force by Deputy Benjamin Jacquot, a school resource officer at the Wyoming school.
A federal lawsuit accuses Benjamin Jacquot and his employer, the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office, of violating the boy’s rights and state policies against prone-position restraints in schools
According to the complaint, J.D. was in the principal’s office for lunch recess, following his individualized education plan (IEP) due to a neurodivergent disability. Initially, the interaction between J.D., the principal, and the teacher appeared calm, as captured by Benjamin Jacquot’s body camera. However, the video was allegedly tampered with, and the subsequent events unfolded without recorded evidence.
Benjamin Jacquotis was accused of forcefully wrestling J.D. into a conference room, repeatedly slamming him facedown, causing the 68-pound boy to struggle for breath and sustain facial injuries. The lawsuit claims Jacquot deleted parts of his bodycam footage, accessed J.D.’s private school records, and was never disciplined by the department.
The suit argues that J.D. did not exhibit behavior warranting the use of force, and Jacquot, aware of the child’s neurodivergent disability, disregarded his IEP’s requirements for de-escalation and patience
Despite the assault, the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office allegedly deemed Benjamin Jacquot’s actions “appropriate and justified,” and there was no disciplinary action. The aftermath of the incident has reportedly left J.D. with permanent psychological injuries, fostering fear and mistrust of law enforcement. The lawsuit, seeking compensatory damages and a trial by jury, is grounded in claims of unreasonable seizure, excessive force, disability-based discrimination, and violations of the Rehabilitation Act.
While Jacquot and the sheriff’s office have not responded to requests for comment, the Laramie County School District stated that Jacquot is no longer a school resource officer. J.D.’s family has been relocated to a different state, and he now attends a school for children with emotional disturbances, undergoing ongoing psychiatric and psychological treatment. The family’s attorney, Matthew Haltzman, emphasizes the need for accountability to aid in the healing process.
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