LARGO, Fla.Kari Turner — A South Florida man is considering filing charges after he claims his wife and daughter were mistreated by Pinellas County School Board Police.
The incident occurred as Kari Turner, 40, and her daughter, Alea Kench, attempted to leave the school board’s Nov. 10 meeting during which the extension of the school system’s face mask policy was extended, WFLA reported.
Several parents who had attempted to leave the meeting told the Tampa Bay Times that school district police stopped them, saying they had to wear masks in order to walk through the building.
Turner was ultimately arrested and charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, trespassing, and disorderly conduct, while her daughter was reportedly “knocked to the ground,” injuring her hand during the scuffle with officers that ensued, the newspaper reported.
“The individual refused to wear a mask, which began a series of events that led to the arrest,” school system spokeswoman Isabel Macarenas told the Times.
According to the newspaper, Alea Kench can be heard shrieking in a video of the confrontation circulating on social media, “That’s my mom! That’s my mom!” before she is knocked to the ground.
Jeremy Kench said his daughter’s hand was hurt severely enough to require medical attention, WFLA reported, noting the elder Kench intends to file charges for the mistreatment of his wife and daughter.
Alea Kench told the TV station that she and her mother attended the meeting to lobby the school board to deny the extension requiring students to wear masks in school.
The extension, which lasts indefinitely but will be reviewed every three months, passed in a 4-to-1 vote.
Meanwhile, parent Debra Williams, who captured video of police blocking another parent from exiting, told the Times that an officer chased her out of the building, taunting her with handcuffs.
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