‘All he did was leave school’: Video shows police detaining student
By Terry Camp
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VASSAR, Michigan (WJRT) — A Vassar High School student and a school resource officer’s encounter is stirring debate in the Tuscola County community.
The incident occurred on the morning of Sept. 16, when the student left school and was detained. The school resource officer, Patrick Hammill, has been removed from his school position but remains a Vassar police officer.
At a recent Vassar City Council meeting, many community members spoke in support of Hammill. A couple who recorded the incident on video decided to release it to show the handling of the situation.
“I was in tears, to be honest. I was disgusted by what I had seen,” Andrew Skibowski said.
He witnessed the event after hearing tires screech and seeing an officer, later identified as Hammill, detaining a person. His wife, Vincie, also witnessed the event, and their Nest camera recorded the incident.
“You can’t do this,” the student said on the video.
“Oh yes we can,” Hammill said in the recording.
The student repeatedly stated that he was not resisting and was in pain, but Hammill insisted on compliance.
“You are hurting me,” the student said.
“Stand up then,” Hammill said.
The Skibowskis later learned the detained individual was a 16-year-old Vassar student. The student reportedly left school after a teacher reprimanded him for using his cell phone.
Hammill pursued the student and detained him several blocks from the school.
“I tried to go home. All I did was leave school,” the student can be heard saying in the video.
Another Vassar police officer arrived to assist in detaining the student, who was eventually handcuffed.
“All he did was leave school,” Skibowski said.
Hammill and Vassar Police Chief Ben Guile could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Vassar Public Schools administrators also did not provide a comment, but a school board meeting was scheduled for Wednesday.
The student was on a 504 plan, which is designed for students with disabilities, and his plan may have allowed him to leave school if agitated. He has since left the district and is attending an online school.
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