Grandmother says 6-year-old granddaughter arrested for tantrum at school

An Orlando elementary school resource officer has been suspended after arresting two 6-year-old children and accusing them of misdemeanors in separate incidents, WGHP reports.

State Attorney Aramis Ayala said Monday that her office would not prosecute the misdemeanor battery charges against either child.

"I refuse to knowingly play any role in the school-to-prison pipeline at any age," she said. "These very young children ought to be protected, nurtured and disciplined in a manner that does not rely on the criminal justice system to do it."

MORE: A school resource officer is suspended after arresting two 6-year-old children - WGHP

via WGHP:

ORLANDO, Fla. (WGHP/CNN) -- A Florida grandmother is demanding answers after she says her 6-year-old granddaughter was reportedly arrested after throwing a tantrum, WKMG reports.

Thursday, Meralyn Kirkland says she got a call from a school resource officer saying her 6-year-old granddaughter was arrested.

"'What do you mean she was arrested?'" she said. "He said there was an incident and she kicked somebody and she is being charged and she is on her way."

An 8-year-old was also arrested the same day, according to Orlando police.

The department requires officers to get approval from their watch commander before arresting children under the age of 12. Orlando Police Sgt. David Baker said that did not happen.

An internal investigation is underway.

Still, Kirkland now faces an upcoming court date.

She says her granddaughter's journey to the juvenile detention center by Orlando police officers began at Lucious And Emma Nixon Elementary Charter School.

"She is arrested and she has a charge," Kirkland said. "She is charged with battery."

The grandmother said that Kaia acted out after having difficulty sleeping.

"She has a medical condition that we are working on getting resolved, and he says, 'What medical condition?'" Kirkland said. "She has a sleep disorder, sleep apnea, and he says, 'Well I have sleep apnea and I don't behave like that.'"

The first-grader was handcuffed and carted off to the station where the grandmother says she was fingerprinted and even had a mug shot taken.

"They told us we had to wait a few minutes because Kaia was being fingerprinted, and when she said fingerprinted it hit me like a ton of bricks," she said.