HELLO EVERYONE AND THANKS FOR JOINING US.... I'M LEAH JOHNSON..
AND I'M FRANK MALLOY.
THIS IS EYEWITNESS NEWS AT SIX...
EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT A MILLEDGEVILLE 6-YEAR-OLD WHO WAS HANDCUFFED IN SCHOOL.
TODAY... THE POLICE CHIEF DEFENDED HIS OFFICER'S DECISION.
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING YOUNG SALECIA JOHNSON WAS VIOLENT AND DISRUPTIVE... BUT A FAMILY SUPPORTER SAYS OFFICIALS HAVE MISHANDLED THE CASE.
JUDY LE HAS THE LATEST ON A STORY THAT'S DRAWING NATIONAL ATTENTION.
MILLEDGEVILLE POLICE CHIEF DRAY SWICORD STANDS BY THE OFFICER'S DECISION TO HANDCUFF SIX-YEAR-OLD SALECIA JOHNSON.
sot dray swicord - the officer noted all the damage, put the student in handcuffs for her safety as well as others. the officer and school administrator continued to reach the parent or guardian and was unsuccesful.
SWICORD HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY TO READ A BRIEF STATEMENT...BUT LEFT WITHOUT TAKING QUESTIONS.
AND THE BALDWIN COUNTY SUPERINTENENT RELEASD A STATEMENT SAYING THE SCHOOL CONTACTED THE POLICE OUT OF CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF THE STUDENT, CLASSMATE, AND SCHOOL STAFF.
AUNT...CONSTANT RUFF...SAID SHE WAS NOT CALLED UNTIL SALECIA WAS TAKEN TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT..
sot aunt candace ruff - 121 why was the emergency contact in which I was one fo them, not notified first? 126
THE MOTHER ...CONSTANCE RUFF ... TOLD ME SALECIA HAS BEEN HAVING NIGHTMARES SINCE THE ARREST AND PLAN ON TAKING HER TO THE SEE A DOCTOR. SHE SAYS SALECIA CRIES OUT ... THEY'RE COMING TO GET ME...IN HER SLEEP.
sot candance: you willd amage a child psychologically by doing something of that natrue.
sot father earnest johnson - 634 i don't wan't anybody messing with my child. that's all i got...my blood
sot salecia: it was hurting my arm
MEANWHILE.....THE 6-YEAR OLD'S PARENTS AREN'T TALKING TO MEDIA ANYMORE... BUT ARE RALLYING COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST SAYS POLICE AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS HAVE MISHANDLED THE CASE...AND SAYS THEY'VE EXAGGERATED HER PAST PROBLEMS.
SOT OSCAR davis jr community activist - i dont think its usual but from 1 years to 8 years od...youre goign to get temper tantrums (428)
DAVIS SAYS THE FAMILY IS IN TOUCH WITH LAYWERS....AND PLANS TO CONTACT ACTIVIST AL SHARPTON.
JUDY LE 13WMAZ EYEWITNESS NEWS.
SALECIA'S FAMILY SAYS MET WITH SCHOOL OFFICIALS THIS AFTERNOON...BUT WOULD NOT SPEAK TO US AFTERWARDS.
REVEREND DAVID LUKE WAS WITH THE FAMILY...AND SAYS THIS WEEK HAS BEEN A TRIAL FOR THEM.
Reverend David Luke: "They've had a long day, very exhausting, emotionally draining, we'll be talking to you all sometime between now and friday." : 07
THIS STORY HAS MANY OF YOU COMMENTING ON FACEBOOK.
SHEILA WROTE... "IF YOU CAN'T HANDLE A SIX YEAR OLD... YOU DON'T NEED TO BE TEACHING. I HAVE A FIVE YEAR OLD IN KINDERGARTEN; HE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE TEACHERS NOW WANT THE KIDS ON MEDS FOR A-D-D... HYPERACTIVITY, ETCETERA... SO THEY WILL BE LITTLE ZOMBIES IN SCHOOL.
HIS PEDIATRICIAN TOLD ME HE HAS TO LEARN. HE ISN'T OLD ENOUGH FOR MEDS.
I FEEL SORRY FOR THE PARENTS AND THE CHILD. THE TRAUMA SHE WAS PUT THROUGH WILL STAY WITH HER A LONG TIME."
AND RANI COMMENTED... "SURE, BEING HANDCUFFED AND TAKEN TO THE STATION IS SOMETHING THAT WILL STICK WITH HER FOR A LONG TIME, BUT THAT JUST MIGHT BE A GOOD THING. IT MIGHT TEACH HER THAT SHE CAN'T ACT ANY WAY SHE WANTS AND GET AWAY WITH IT.
THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR ACTIONS, AND CHILDREN NEED TO LEARN THAT EARLY ON. IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO THE FACT THAT AT 6 YEARS OLD, A CHILD SHOULD KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG AND KNOW HOW TO CONTROL THEMSELVES AND THEIR ANGER."
JOIN THE CONVERSATION AT FACEBOOK DOT COM SLASH 13WMAZ.
AND TODAY'S 13WMAZ DOT COM WEB POLL ASKS... SHOULD MILLEDGEVILLE POLICE HAVE HANDCUFFED A SIX-YEAR-OLD?
SO FAR 77 PERCENT OF YOU SAY YES...THEY SHOULD HAVE.
AND 23 PERCENT SAY NO.
VOTE NOW... LOOK FOR THE QUESTION ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HOMEPAGE AT 13WMAZ DOT COM.
SO HOW SHOULD EDUCATORS HANDLE STUDENTS WHO BECOME DISRUPTIVE IN CLASS?
AUSTIN LEWIS SPOKE WITH THE GEORGIA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO LEARN THEIR RULES ON CHILD RESTRAINTS.
<<
THEY HAVE RULES ABOUT PHYSICALLY RESTRAINING A CHILD...THEY SAY YES. THOSE HAVE BEEN IN PLACE SINCE JULY OF 2010.
NOW IT'S PROHIBITED TO PHYSICALLY RESTRAIN A STUDENT UNLESS THE STUDENT IS DANGER TO HIMSELF OR OTHERS...AND DOESN'T RESPOND TO VERBAL DIRECTIONS OR OTHER DE-ESCALATION TECHNIQUES.
Matt Cardoza, Director of Communications for Georgia Department of Education: In the case of physical restraints it's pretty clear that it's not to be used unless the child is imposing a harm to other people or him or herself so if that's the case then it's a judgement call about using the restraints
NOW SCHOOLS THAT DECIDE TO USE PHYSICAL RESTRAINTS HAVE TO FOLLOW CERTAIN GUIDELINES INCLUDING TRAINING STAFF AND FACULTY ON APPROPIATE TECHNIQUES.
THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTIFICATION TO THE PARENTS WHEN THEIR CHILD IS PHYSICALLY RESTRAINED.
AND ALSO PROCEDURES FOR MONITORING AND OBSERVING PHYSICAL RESTRAINTS HAS TO BE IN PLACE AND DOCUMENTED.
IF THE CHILD IS RESTRAINED......IT NEEDS TO BE STOPPED AS SOON AS THE CHILD IS NO LONGER A THREAT TO HIMSELF OR OTHERS...OR APPEARS TO BE IN SEVERE DISTRESS.
NOW IF A CHILD IS CONSIDERED TO BE A DANGER TO HIM SELF OR OTHERS...THE SCHOOL must DETERMINE WHEN THEY NEED ASSISTANCE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT. IN THAT CASE...LAW ENFORCEMENT AREN'T BOUND BY THE STATE'S BOARD OF EDUCATION RULES
Matt Cardoza, Director of Communications for Georgia Department of Education: Law enforcement comes into, into a building then they have their right to restrain a student again based on their own guidelines if that child is being harmful to others or him or herself.
THE MILLEDGEVILLE INCIDENT REPORT...DOESN'T SHOW THAT CREEKSIDE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL OR GUIDANCE COUNSELOR PHYSICALLY RESTRAINED THE CHILD.
SALECIA JOHNSON WAS PLACED IN HANDCUFFS BY THE MILLEDGEVILLE POLICE OFFICER
>> MATT CARDOZA.... DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAYS IT'S UP TO THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT WHETHER TO INVOLVE POLICE.
AT THIS HOUR.. DISGRUNTLED MACON POLICE AND FIRE RETIREES ARE GATHERED AT CITY HALL TO LET COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW THEY OPPOSE A PROPOSAL TO CHANGE THEIR PENSION BENEFITS.
THEIR ANGER SPILLED OVER YESTERDAY WHEN WORD SPREAD THAT MAYOR ROBERT REICHERT WANTED TO CUT THEIR PENSIONS.. SOMETHING REICHERT SAYS ISN'T TRUE.
THE MAYOR SAYS THE CONTROVERSY STEMMED FROM A MISCOMMUNICATION SPREAD EMAIL.
NEVERTHELESS.. THE RETIREES AREN'T SATISFIED.. THEY DON'T WANT THEIR BENEFITS PACKAGE CHANGED... PERIOD.
BUT A LETTER FROM THE ATTORNEY FOR THEIR RETIREMENT BOARD SAYS FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS PROHIBIT THE CITY OF MACON FROM CUTTING BENEFITS IN THE POLICE AND FIRE RETIREMENT FUNDS.
ATTORNEY HELEN CLEVELAND SAYS THE GEORGIA AND UNITED STATES CONSTITUTIONS CONTAIN IMPAIRMENT CLAUSES THAT PROHIBIT PENSION REDUCTIONS.
CLEVELAND ALSO SAYS THE RETIREES RECEIVE ADDITIONAL PROTECTION FROM THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION'S FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT DUE PROCESS CLAUSE.
AND ADDITIONAL PROTECTION COMES FROM SECTION 1-9-8-3 OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.
IN PART.. THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE RETIREMENT PLAN SAYS "NONPROFITABLE BENEFITS SHALL BE LIMITED TOTHE ASSESTS OF THE SYSTEM.
SINCE MACON'S PLAN ISN'T FULLY FUNDED.. SOME INCLUDING BIBB COMMISSIONER JOE ALLEN AND SOME PENSION BOARD MEMBERS.. COMPLAINED THAT MEANS REICHERT IS TRYING TO CUT THEIR PENSIONS.
REICHERT SAYS THAT FALSE.
BECAUSE OF THE IMPAIRMENT CLAUSES AND THE BELIEF THAT OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE PROPOSED CHANGE DO NOT COMPLY WITH EXISTING LAW.. CLEVELAND SAYS THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES COULD FILE SUIT AGAINST THE CITY IF IT MAKES THE CHANGES.
HOUSTON COUNTY INVESTIGATORS NOW BELIEVE THAT A MAN FOUND DEAD IN THE OCMULGEE RIVER ....WAS KILLED.
BASED ON A G-B-I AUTOPSY TODAY... CAPTAIN ROBERT CLARK SAYS THEY'RE INVESTIGATING THE DEATH AS A HOMICIDE.
HE WOULD NOT DESCRIBE THE RESULTS.
CLARK ALSO SAYS THEY NOW BELIEVE THEY'VE IDENTIFIED THE MAN....
HE DESCRIBES THE VICTIM AS A WHITE MALE...IN HIS 20'S...FROM OUTSIDE CENTRAL GEORGIA.
CLARK SAYS THEY WON'T RELEASE THE MAN'S NAME... UNTIL THEY'VE LOCATED HIS FAMILY.
THE MACON ANIMAL SHELTER WILL COME UNDER BIBB COUNTY'S CONTROL THIS SUMMER.
THE COUNTY PLANS TO BUILD A BRAND NEW SHELTER WITH PENNY SALES TAX FUNDS... BUT COMMISSIONERS SAY THEY WANT TO IMPROVE HOW THE SHELTER IS RUN EVEN BEFORE THE FACILITY IS BUILT.
CANDACE ADORKA REPORTS THEIR GOAL IS MINIMIZE HOW MANY ANIMALS ARE EUTHANIZED.
HOUSTON COUNTY INVESTIGATORS NOW BELIEVE THAT A MAN FOUND DEAD IN THE OCMULGEE RIVER ....WAS KILLED.
BASED ON A G-B-I AUTOPSY TODAY... CAPTAIN ROBERT CLARK SAYS THEY'RE INVESTIGATING THE DEATH AS A HOMICIDE.
HE WOULD NOT DESCRIBE THE RESULTS.
CLARK ALSO SAYS THEY NOW BELIEVE THEY'VE IDENTIFIED THE MAN....
HE DESCRIBES THE VICTIM AS A WHITE MALE...IN HIS 20'S...FROM OUTSIDE CENTRAL GEORGIA.
CLARK SAYS THEY WON'T RELEASE THE MAN'S NAME... UNTIL THEY'VE LOCATED HIS FAMILY.
THE MACON ANIMAL SHELTER WILL COME UNDER BIBB COUNTY'S CONTROL THIS SUMMER.
THE COUNTY PLANS TO BUILD A BRAND NEW SHELTER WITH PENNY SALES TAX FUNDS... BUT COMMISSIONERS SAY THEY WANT TO IMPROVE HOW THE SHELTER IS RUN EVEN BEFORE THE FACILITY IS BUILT.
CANDACE ADORKA REPORTS THEIR GOAL IS MINIMIZE HOW MANY ANIMALS ARE EUTHANIZED.
<<
LAST YEAR... MORE THAN 22-HUNDRED DOGS AND CATS WERE KILLED AT THE MACON ANIMAL SHELTER.
BIBB COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WANT THAT NUMBER LOWERED... AND THEY WANT A STRATEGY IN PLACE BY JULY FIRST WHEN THEY START OPERATING THE SHELTER.
"The commission seems to be committed to a low-kill facility, but they're examining exactly what that would entail."
COMMISSIONER BERT BIVENS SAYS A LOW-KILL POLICY WOULD MEAN RESTRICTIONS....THAT MIGHT KEEP THE SHELTER FROM RUNNING EFFICIENTLY.
" at some point you're going to have to set numbers and you're gonna have to say how many get killed, how many don't. And we don't knwo if we exceed the number what happens, it just complicates things when you do that."
HE SAYS HE WOULD PREFER TO USE EDUCATION AND LOW-COST SPAY-AND-NEUTER PROGRAMS TO CUT DOWN ON THE NUMBER OF UNWANTED ANIMALS.
"that in itself will cause us to have a low-kill because we won't have as many animals coming into the shelter."
AT A TUESDAY MEETING... THE COMMISSION WERE ON BOARD WITH THOSE OUTREACH PROGRAMS... BUT THEY ALSO DISCUSSED STRONGER RULES AGAINST DOG FIGHTING AND UNLICENCED BREEDING.
BIVENS SAYS WHATEVER THEY DECIDE... THEY WILL NEED HELP FROM VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS.
"We have a lot of people now who are interested in animals. It's just that somebody has to get this thing going, recruit some people who are willing to go out, a lot of people are willing to do that. It just needs to be organized and we have to have a different mindset about it.
CANDACE ADORKA 13 WMAZ EYEWITNESS NEWS.
>> EUTHANASIA RATES DROPPED IN 2012 UNDER INTERIM DIRECTOR VAN VANDERWALKER.
70 ANIMALS WERE PUT DOWN IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY... DOWN FROM ABOUT 540 IN THE SAME MONTHS LAST YEAR.
FOR THE SECOND TIME IN RECENT MONTHS... THE GEORGIA BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION IS BACK IN WILKINSON COUNTY.
THIS TIME... THEY'RE LOOKING INTO ALLEGATIONS OF MONEY MISSING FROM IRWINTON CITY HALL.
GBI SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE TOM DAVIS IS NOT SAYING HOW MUCH MONEY IS INVOLVED.
HE SAYS AGENTS EXECUTED A SEARCH WARRANT TODAY..SEIZING FILES AND INFORMATION FROM COMPUTER HARD DRIVES.
EARLIER THIS YEAR... THE COUNTY'S FORMER TAX COMMISSIONER WAS CHARGED WITH THEFT AFTER A MONTHS-LONG INVESTIGATION.
THE GBI SAYS THE TWO CASES ARE *NOT* RELATED.
FAMILY MEMBERS OF SLAIN MERCER LAW GRAD LAUREN GIDDINGS SAY.. AS HER BIRTHDAY APPROACHES.. THEY WANT TO CELEBRATE HER LIFE..
Kathy Mann, Giddings Cousin: "I know a lot of people just drive by here and they know this is where Lauren Giddings lived, and I wanted them to see a little bit about who she was."
COUSIN KATHY MANN STOPPED BY THE GEORGIA AVENUE APARTMENTS TODAY.. TO HANG A WREATH AND A SIGN IN LAUREN'S HONOR.
SHE SAYS.. LAUREN'S FAMILY PLANS TO CELEBRATE HER BIRTHDAY TOMORROW IN MARYLAND WITH PINK CHAMPAGNE.. AND CHILI DOGS.. SINCE LAUREN AND HER DAD BOTH LOVED NU-WAY HOT DOGS.
Kathy Mann, Giddings Cousin: "It makes me cry truthfully and it gives me a lot of honor to be able to be here for her mom and dad and aunts and uncles and sisters."
THERE WILL BE A BIRTHDAY MEMORIAL MASS TOMORROW MORNING AT 8 A-M.. AT SAINT JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH ON POPLAR STREET IN DOWNTOWN MACON.
CENTRAL GEORGIA WILL GET ITS FIRST FOURTH-GENERATION WIRELESS NETWORK BY THE END OF THE WEEK.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO A PRESS RELEASE FROM VERIZON WIRELESS.
THE COMPANY INTENDS TO FLIP THE 4-G SWITCH IN MACON... WARNER ROBINS AND SURROUNDING AREAS THIS THURSDAY.
WE'LL TAKE A DEEPER LOOK AT 4-G... AND THE AREA SET TO SEE IT TONIGHT AT 11 DURING THIS WEEK'S GEEK 13.
MOBILE COMMAND CENTERS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE MET AT THE MACON CENTERPLEX TODAY.
TEAMS OF FIRST RESPONDERS PUT THEIR SKILLS TO THE TEST...AS THEY PERFORMED EXERCISES GEARED TO HELP THEM PREPARE FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
MOBILE COMMAND VEHICLES... OR M-C-VS ARE EQUIPPED WITH ALL KINDS OF TECHNOLOGY. BUT NICK BROWN WITH THE GEORGIA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY EXPLAINS WHY COMMUNICATION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR.
Nick Brown, Georgia Emergency Management Agency: "Without communications you can't coordinate an event. So today we're testing the capabilities of all these vehicles as well as all the personnel to make sure they understand how to operate the equipment and facilitate communications.
TODAY'S TRAINING WAS HOSTED BY THE GEORGIA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE EVENT TOOK PLACE IN MIDDLE GEORGIA.