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A Baltimore County, Md., fifth-grader got a visit from the police after his teacher called to report that she had seen a BB gun on the wall behind the student during a class video call.
The boy’s mother, Courtney Lancaster Sperry, a Navy veteran, is warning other parents about a lack of privacy during virtual classes after her son was targeted by a teacher who saw what she thought was a scary-looking gun hanging on the wall of the boy’s bedroom.
“While my son was on a Zoom call, a ‘concerned parent’ and subsequently two teachers saw his properly stowed and mounted Red Ryder BB gun and one other BB gun in the background,” Sperry wrote on Facebook. “He was not holding them and never intentionally showed them on video. In fact, he was oblivious that they could even be seen in the background.”
After the teacher reported the gun, the principal, Jason Feiler, decided to call the police to report the guns and ask that the home be searched.
The principal and the teacher cited a rule stating that students may not bring guns to school and claimed it extended to virtual classes as well, Sperry said, adding that the school handbook does not address rules for virtual learning at all. Besides, “he did not BRING anything to this meeting and he is in his own home,” she said. “They were simply in the background in our home, safely stowed in a room behind a closed door, with no ammunition (if you can even call it that).”
Sperry was, understandably, shocked when police pulled up in front of the family’s home.
“I had no idea what to think. I’ve never been in any legal trouble whatsoever. I’ve never had any negative encounter with law enforcement,” said Sperry. “I had no idea. I really didn’t know what to think.”
“So, I answered the door. The police officer was… very nice. He explained to me that he was coming to address an issue with my son’s school,” the mother told Fox Baltimore. “And then explained to me that he was here to search for weapons, in my home. And I consented to let him in. And then I, unfortunately, stood there and watched police officers enter my 11-year-old son’s bedroom.”
“The officers that responded were appalled at the call and even commended the set-up that my son has for his toys and commended him also on his respect and understanding of the BB guns,” Sperry wrote on Facebook.
Sperry asked the principal why the issue couldn’t have been handled privately by phone rather than sending the police. “He said that was not their policy,” she said.
“The officers were more than nice,” she wrote, “and though they did not have a warrant, I have always been taught to not only comply, but had nothing to hide and allowed them to look wherever they wanted to.”
“I felt violated as a parent, for my child, who’s standing there with police officers in his room, just to see the fear on his face,” she added.
“I felt violated as a parent, for my child, who’s standing there with police officers in his room, just to see the fear on his face,” she added.
originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus
a reply to: StallionDuck
Okay. She said:
“I felt violated as a parent, for my child, who’s standing there with police officers in his room, just to see the fear on his face,” she added.
Why TF did you let them in? When they ask, 'May we search your sons room?", you say, "No".
originally posted by: Blaine91555
Saying no is an indicator of guilt...
originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus
a reply to: StallionDuck
Okay. She said:
“I felt violated as a parent, for my child, who’s standing there with police officers in his room, just to see the fear on his face,” she added.
Why TF did you let them in? When they ask, 'May we search your sons room?", you say, "No".
originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus
a reply to: StallionDuck
I don't know if you need to get all mental. You ask if they have a warrant and if they don't you tell them they can't come in and stay safe out there.
But she sounds like a Karen: Let's cops in house, outraged by cops in house.
originally posted by: Nickn3
I would be respectful, but I wouldn’t invite them in. It like inviting a vampire across you threshold, once permission is given, you can’t take it back.
“So, I answered the door. The police officer was, he was very nice. He explained to me that he was coming to address an issue with my son's school,” Courtney told Project Baltimore. “And then explained to me that he was here to search for weapons, in my home. And I consented to let him in. And then I, unfortunately, stood there and watched police officers enter my 11-year-old son's bedroom.”
Courtney says the police officers were in her home for about 20 minutes and found no violations. No laws were broken and no dangers present. They left without any further action, but Courtney wasn’t done.
originally posted by: Blaine91555
I suppose if a person has something to hide it makes sense to not cooperate. Otherwise, a person may as well have "Guilty" tattooed on their foreheads.
originally posted by: Liquesence
First mistake was not asking for a warrant, and being a "good citizen" and just letting the cops right in to search the house.
originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus
originally posted by: Liquesence
First mistake was not asking for a warrant, and being a "good citizen" and just letting the cops right in to search the house.
I'll just comply because I don't think the government ever railroaded anyone.
originally posted by: Blaine91555
a reply to: AugustusMasonicus
Saying no is an indicator of guilt, so if there is nothing to hide, you should always say yes. It ends it right there and proves there is nothing illegal going on. Like running from the police shows consciousness of guilt, not allowing them to search shows the same.
If you think the officers violated the law somehow, you deal with that after you say yes to the search without hesitation. It's a much stronger position to argue from. You say no, from that point forward people assume you are in fact hiding something.