Arrested teen files formal complaint

Howard County Times ^ | Jan. 29, 2004 | Luke Broadwater

[DemWatch]

The lawyer for a 15-year-old male student at Glenelg High School last week filed a formal complaint with the Howard County Board of Education and the police department.

Meanwhile, police relocated the officer who arrested the boy to a different school.

The boy's attorney, Hassan Ahmad, said Jan. 27 that he wants to meet with county and school officials to seek a settlement in what he calls an "improper arrest." Ahmad and the boy's parents allege the officer used excessive force in arresting the boy.

"We're looking for an administrative remedy first," Ahmad said. "But we're not ruling out a monetary settlement or a lawsuit."

In the complaints to the board and police, Mahmood and Jaleh Ebrahimzadeh said, "We hope to be able to reach a swift and amicable resolution to this matter."

"We hope that all students, teachers and police officers in Howard County will benefit from the resolution we hope to reach," they added.

At issue is the Dec. 10 arrest of the Ebrahimzadehs' son Marvan.

On Dec. 10, a biology teacher at Glenelg High assigned her class new seats, but Marvan Ebrahimzadeh refused to move because he wanted to sit next to his friends, school spokeswoman Patti Caplan said.

The teacher repeatedly asked the youth to move, but he continued to refuse, Caplan said. The teacher called assistant principal Robert Connor, who asked the boy to come into the hall. Ebrahimzadeh refused to do so several times, Caplan said.

The student eventually agreed to come into the hall and walk with Connor to the principal's office. But on the way, the student turned around and returned to his class, Caplan said.

Connor called Glenelg High's school resource police officer, Kelly Smith. When Smith entered the biology classroom, he found the boy sitting in his newly assigned seat, but asked him to come to the principal's office as Connor had requested. Ebrahimzadeh refused again, Caplan said.

Smith handcuffed the youth and took him to the police station in Ellicott City, where he was charged with disorderly conduct, police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn said.

The boy's attorney and parents this week alleged that the officer handled the boy too roughly during the arrest and might have discriminated against the boy because the youth is of Middle Eastern decent.

A week after the incident, Llewellyn said the officer acted appropriately during the incident, controlling a student who was resisting arrest and rebelling against his teacher and assistant principal. Police spokeswoman Richard Malcolm this week repeated that statement.

"The investigation is still open," he said. "But there is no indication of any wrongdoing on the officer's part."

Caplan also denied that the officer or the school officials discriminated against the boy.

Even so, Caplan said this week that the officer had been transferred to the Homewood School.

"My understanding is that the decision was in the best interest of the officer and the school," Caplan said.

Caplan said Glenelg High School administrators are considering instituting some form of sensitivity training as a result of the incident and are working in conjunction with central officer officials to make such training happen.

E-mail Luke Broadwater at lbroadwater@patuxent.com.

[Jaysun]

A swift kickintheass would have remedied that behavior without all of the fuss. Of course, that isn't permitted anymore. They aren't allowed to discipline and it's hard for them to understand what's wrong with the youth? sheesh.

[thoughtomator]

They're trying to turn our society into a reflection of their own, where the mob rules. He should get expelled for such behavior, and the officer should be commended!

[Welsh Rabbit]

Caplan said Glenelg High School administrators are considering instituting some form of sensitivity training as a result of the incident and are working in conjunction with central officer officials to make such training happen.

Lord, give me strength...

[catonsville]

I believe The Glenelg School is a private school for rich, occasionally spoiled-rotten students whose parents want out of the public school system.
Glenelg is known for its values based education. Apparently ,they were unable to communicate these values to this idiot of a kid.

[DumpsterDiver]

...might have discriminated against the boy because the youth is of Middle Eastern decent.

Sometimes being Middle Eastern decent just doesn't cut the mustard.

[archy]

A swift kickintheass would have remedied that behavior without all of the fuss

Of course then the cop would have to treat all other students equally, or face federal criminal charges that could see him imprisoned for ten years in a federal pen:

United States Code, Title 18, U.S. Criminal Code, Section 242.
- Deprivation of rights under color of law:

Whoever, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, willfully subjects any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or to different punishments, pains, or penalties, on account of such person being an alien, or by reason of his color, or race, than are prescribed for the punishment of citizens, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if bodily injury results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.

[Jaysun]

Of course then the cop would have to treat all other students equally, or face federal criminal charges that could see him imprisoned for ten years in a federal pen:

I was talking about the teacher, but your point remains the same. Thanks.

[TalBlack]

Geeez we're becoming irrational as a society: We take responsibility away from the teacher--Ok, fine so if not the Police then WHO? Who is left. In my day this kid would have been told to go as soon as he refused an order, and if he didn't go he would have been pulled bodily down to the principal's office.

If not the cops then WHO? Whats the remedy?

[Nagilum]

And people wonder why the public school system is crap?!?

[solitas]

strike one: refused to move when the teacher (female) told him to
strike two: failing to accompany the asst principal to the hallway several times
strike three: failed to accompany the AP to the office
strike four: sassed a cop
strike five: (well, what do names like Mahmood and Jaleh and Marvan Ebrahimzadeh and Hassan Ahmad suggest to YOU? besides 'questionable' greencards)

first strike: across the mouth with a leather-gloved palm
second strike: same, backhanded
third strike (if necessary): in the solar plexus with a Prosecutor
n-th strikes: all over the rest of that sorry lot

[Fighter@heart]

"A swift kickintheass" No Sir!! nothing but the best for this mal-content. A hearty "wood shampoo" is what this lad needs!!! Not for punishment sake, just to gain his attention so he can appreciate his mis-understanding of classroom co-operation!!!!

[Daphne]

the whole incident is WEIRD. Something like that would never happen at my high school.

i've even been in situations where that's happened, like, in the room. Same old problem kids, you know? All they did was call in the guidance counselor and they dragged them away, sometimes kicking and biting, disrupting everyone. Kinda scary.

Bout time they brought in the cops with these things. Wish they did that at MY school.

This kid shoulda been handcuffed long before this by his own parents (even though i know that parents actually RAISING their own kids is old-fashioned).

[Uncle Sausage]

In which State did this happen?

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

With parents like this, he doesn't have a chance.

[catonsville]

Maryland. See my comment about the school

[catonsville]

Maryland. See my comment about the school

[PAR35]

I believe The Glenelg School is a private school

No, this is a public high school
http://www.howard.k12.md.us/ourschools/highdirectory.html

[archy]

I was talking about the teacher, but your point remains the same. Thanks.

Applies equally. And unless they beat all the kids, they could also face federal conspiricy charges for the apparant *discrimination.*

-archy-/-

[Welsh Rabbit]

Come, now! we must be inclusive and embrace diversity and respect this young man's culture. We must look to the Koran for the appropriate punishment for such disobedience, which involves a whip or something of the sort...

[ricks_place]

Glenelg is a public high school in a well off area of western Howard County, Mayland. It is not a private school.

[freeangel]

Maybe it does if they can squeeze megabucks from the taxpayers. More "social terrorism' from an "opressed" individual?

[ricks_place]

Mahmood Ebrahimzadeh was a paid private soccer coach who used race baiting tactics to get his way with public officials a number of years ago. He then moved to Howard County where it looks like he is training his son.

[DemWatch]

Glenelg HS is in the same county/school system as River Hill HS---where the lesbian kiss thing occurred.

[Jaysun]

"A swift kickintheass" No Sir!! nothing but the best for this mal-content. A hearty "wood shampoo" is what this lad needs!!! Not for punishment sake, just to gain his attention so he can appreciate his mis-understanding of classroom co-operation!!!!

LOL! That's good! The school that I went to in Texas would send the boys home for allowing their hair to grow too long, the pregnant girls (I only remember one) were sent away to another school across town. You would have found yourself on life support if you'd pulled a stunt like this kid did.

[IrishCatholic]

Uhm, On my planet the teacher would have asked twice and then would have grabbed Jr. by the scrub of the neck and moved him. That night a call from the teacher to Sr. would have met with a short clear conversation between Dad and Son.
The next morning the student would apologize to the teacher and the incident would never happen again.
Instead, we get Lord of the Flies and sensitivity training.

[CommandoFrank]

If the school is denying there was any racial discrimination, why are they recommending sensitivity training?

They didn't specify what type of discrimination they were dodging. IMHO I believe he was definitely discriminated against; he was targeted because he was being an a$$hole while the others were acting in accordance with the teachers wishes.

Send him back to the Middle East...

[Calamari]

Back in the day--late 50's early 60's --this would have been settled after the first no.At my old high school many of the teachers had survived WWII and Korea using their GI bill to get teaching degrees.They did not put up with BS from a student. Even the most incorrigable students just did not challenge the teachers.

The teachers were not mean or bullies but there was a line that you did not cross with them.

Your parents were not going to get you a lawyer either since you were guilty--period.

[solitas]

"wood shampoo" = a club applied to the skull? :) okay - no probs with that.

[solitas]

...we must be inclusive and embrace diversity...

inclusivity: "n-th strikes: all over the rest of that sorry lot" (i.e. mahmood and jaleh and hassan)

diversity: "second strike: same, backhanded" = embracing ambidexterity