10 Times Children Were Arrested for Ridiculous Reasons

We understand that children are also human and can do evil, forcing the law to intervene. We totally agree with this scenario. However, there have been certain times when the law went overboard in dealing with cases involving children. In these cases, we believe that adults in the vicinity could have handled the issue without the intervention of law enforcement officers. These are ten times children were arrested for ridiculous reasons:

Related: 10 Times Terrible Tourists Were Arrested

10 12-Year-Old Boy Arrested for Passing Gas

In an incident that can only be described as baffling, a 12-year-old boy from Stuart, Florida, found himself in police custody for what began as a classroom prank. The boy, seeking to entertain his peers, decided to pass gas during class. Adding to his disruptive behavior, he turned off some of his classmates’ computers. His teacher, clearly exasperated by the boy’s antics, decided to take the matter further than most would have expected by calling the police.

The boy was subsequently arrested and taken to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, where he admitted to the actions. Although he was released to his mother later that day, the severity of the response—being taken downtown for a childish prank—sparked debate about whether the situation warranted such a drastic measure. A school detention or suspension would likely have sufficed, and this case serves as a reminder of the importance of proportionality in disciplinary actions involving minors.^[1]

9 10-Year-Old Boy Arrested for Public Urination

In a case that drew significant public outcry, 10-year-old Quantavious Eason was arrested in Senatobia, Mississippi, for urinating behind his mother’s parked vehicle. The incident occurred when Quantavious, finding no public restrooms nearby, discreetly relieved himself on private property. An officer passing by noticed and reported the behavior to his mother, LaTonya Eason, who immediately reprimanded her son.

What seemed like the end of the matter soon escalated when four additional officers from the Senatobia Police Department arrived, arrested Quantavious, and took him to the police station. The event quickly became a point of contention, with many in the community criticizing the police for overreacting to a situation that could have been handled with a warning. LaTonya Eason demanded both an apology and the dismissal of the officers involved. The case raised important questions about how law enforcement interacts with children and whether such incidents necessitate criminal charges.^[2]

8 6-Year-Old Girl Arrested for Throwing a Tantrum

In September 2019, a deeply troubling incident occurred at Lucious and Emma Nixon Academy in Florida, where a six-year-old girl named Kaia was arrested for throwing a temper tantrum in class. The situation took a harrowing turn when the arresting officer, completely disregarding the child’s age, placed her in handcuffs and escorted her out of the school. Body camera footage later revealed Kaia’s heart-wrenching pleas for a second chance as she was led away. The arrest sent shockwaves through the community, with Kaia’s grandmother expressing disbelief and nearly fainting upon hearing the news.

Fortunately, the State Attorney intervened, dropping all charges against Kaia and expunging her record. The officer responsible for the arrest was subsequently dismissed from his position. However, the damage had already been done—Kaia was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and required extensive therapy to recover from the ordeal. This case serves as a stark reminder of the long-lasting impact that excessive law enforcement actions can have on young children.^[3]

7 14-Year-Old Girl Arrested for Texting in Class

A seemingly routine classroom infraction at a Wisconsin high school escalated into a legal matter when a 14-year-old girl was arrested for texting during class. The girl had attempted to hide her phone after being confronted by her teacher, denying any wrongdoing despite her peers confirming that she had been texting. Frustrated by the student’s dishonesty, the teacher called in a female police officer to conduct a search, which led to the discovery of the phone.

The girl was subsequently arrested, and her phone was confiscated. This incident raises important questions about the role of law enforcement in schools and whether criminal charges are appropriate for such minor disciplinary issues. While the use of phones in classrooms is a growing concern, the heavy-handed approach of involving police officers in this case seems disproportionate. More effective strategies could involve school-based disciplinary actions, such as detention or parental involvement, rather than criminalizing typical teenage behavior.^[4]

6 Honors Student Jailed for Missing School

Diane Tran, a 17-year-old honors student from Texas, found herself on the wrong side of the law due to her struggle to balance school with her responsibilities at home. Diane, who worked two jobs to support her siblings after her parents’ divorce, was arrested for truancy after missing several days of school. Despite her straight-A record and the challenging circumstances she faced, a Texas judge chose to make an example of her by sentencing her to 24 hours in jail and imposing a $100 fine.

The public response to Diane’s sentencing was swift and overwhelming, with many expressing outrage at the harsh treatment of a young woman who was clearly doing her best under difficult conditions. The case quickly gained national attention, and following widespread criticism, the judge dismissed the charges against Diane.

In a fortunate turn of events, the public outcry led to a fundraising campaign that raised over $100,000, enabling Diane to continue her education. This case highlights the need for a more compassionate approach to student truancy, particularly when the underlying causes are rooted in hardship rather than neglect.^[5]

5 Girl Arrested for Doodling on Her Desk

Alexa Gonzalez, a 12-year-old student at a junior high school in Forest Hills, New York, learned the hard way that not all forms of self-expression are welcome in the classroom. One day, in a moment of excitement, Alexa doodled on her desk, writing, “I love my friends Abby and Faith. Lex was here 2/1/10 :).” What might have warranted a simple reprimand or detention quickly escalated when the school’s principal decided to involve law enforcement. A police officer was called to the school, and Alexa was arrested, her hands cuffed behind her back as she was led out of the building in full view of her peers.

The heavy-handed response drew widespread condemnation, with many questioning why such a minor infraction required police intervention. While school property should be respected, the decision to arrest a child for a harmless doodle seems out of proportion. This incident underscores the need for schools to reconsider the role of police in handling minor disciplinary matters and to seek more appropriate responses that do not criminalize childhood behavior.^[6]

4 Girl Arrested for Dropping Cake on the Floor

In an incident that would have been considered absurd were it not so serious, 16-year-old Pleajhai Mervin found herself arrested and expelled from Knight High School in Palmdale, California, after accidentally dropping a piece of cake on the floor. The situation unfolded during a birthday celebration when Pleajhai inadvertently let the cake slip from her hands. She promptly picked it up and cleaned the area, but the school security guard was unsatisfied with her efforts.

The guard’s response was shockingly aggressive; he followed Pleajhai to her classroom, forcibly restrained her by twisting her arms behind her back, and held her face down on a desk. The excessive force used by the guard resulted in Pleajhai suffering a broken wrist. To add insult to injury, the school called the police, and Pleajhai was arrested and charged with assaulting a school security officer. The incident was captured on video by a classmate, revealing the one-sided nature of the confrontation. Pleajhai’s case sparked outrage, highlighting the dangers of overzealous security measures in schools and the potential for such incidents to escalate far beyond what is reasonable.^[4]

3 Pupil Arrested for Spraying Perfume in Class

At Fulmore Middle School in Texas, a school with its own police force, 12-year-old Sarah Bustamantes found herself on the wrong side of the law for a seemingly innocent act. Diagnosed with attention deficit and bipolar disorders, Sarah faced daily challenges that set her apart from her peers.

On one particular day, after being subjected to bullying by her classmates, Sarah sprayed herself with perfume in an attempt to make herself more appealing and to stop the bullying. Unfortunately, her teacher did not see it that way and considered her actions disruptive enough to warrant police intervention. Sarah was arrested for disruptive behavior and subsequently charged, requiring her to appear in court.

The incident raised serious concerns about the criminalization of minor infractions in schools and the disproportionate use of law enforcement in situations that could be handled within the educational system. For a young girl already grappling with mental health issues, the experience was undoubtedly traumatic, highlighting the need for more sensitive and appropriate responses to behavioral challenges in schools.^[8]

2 14-Year-Old Arrested for Making a Clock

Ahmed Mohammed, a 14-year-old student with a passion for engineering, found himself at the center of a national controversy after a weekend project led to his arrest. Ahmed disassembled a digital clock and reassembled it in a pencil case, eager to show his creation to his teachers at MacArthur High School in Irving, Texas. While his engineering teacher was impressed with the project, he advised Ahmed not to show it to other teachers, possibly foreseeing potential misunderstandings.

However, during an English class, the clock’s alarm went off, catching the attention of his English teacher. Mistaking the device for a bomb, the teacher seized it and reported the incident to the school principal, who in turn contacted the police. Ahmed was handcuffed and escorted out of the school, igniting a firestorm of media coverage and public debate. He was interrogated by five officers before they concluded that Ahmed had no malicious intent and had committed no crime.

Despite his eventual release, the incident raised serious concerns about racial profiling and the overreaction of school officials to a harmless science project. The case became a touchstone in discussions about treating minority students in schools and the importance of encouraging, rather than stifling, young scientific minds.^[9]

1 Student Arrested for Bringing the Wrong Lunch Bag to School

Ashley Smithwick, a 17-year-old honors student, faced severe consequences after an innocent mistake turned her life upside down. Rushing to avoid being late for school, Ashley accidentally grabbed her father’s lunch bag instead of her own. Unbeknownst to her, the bag contained a small, three-inch paring knife that her father used for food preparation. During a routine search for drugs and other contraband at her North Carolina high school, officials discovered the knife in Ashley’s lunch bag.

Despite her father immediately confirming that the switch was a simple mistake, the school administration decided to involve the police. Ashley was arrested and charged with misdemeanor possession of a weapon on school grounds, a charge that carried a potential sentence of six months to one year in jail. Furthermore, she was suspended for the remainder of the school year, effectively disrupting her education and future prospects.

The harsh response to what was clearly an honest mistake sparked widespread criticism and highlighted the need for schools to exercise better judgment and discretion in handling such situations.^[10]