Student, 14, forced to show bra during strip search for nicotine vape pen sues Heartland Middle School and its principal
EDMOND, OKLAHOMA: A lawsuit has been filed against Heartland Middle School and its principal, Veronica Johnson, by a middle schooler for forcing her to lift up her shirt, show her bra and spin in front of her school’s principal during an illegal strip search for a vape pen. The lawsuit was filed by the student's mother, Kristel Trenkamp on March 3, 2023, in the District Court of Oklahoma County.
The 14-year-old girl was accused of having a nicotine vape pen at the school and was subjected to a strip search on May 10, 2021, in a room with an uncovered window that has a clear view to general access areas of the school, according to reports. The search was conducted in front of the school’s principal, Veronica Johnson, a school resource officer, and another student.
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'Bare her abdomen'
After the alleged, illegal strip search, no vape pen was found and no warrant was obtained prior to the event, which took place on May 10, 2021.
In the lawsuit, Principal Johnson is named as a defendant. The young girl claims she had to "bare her abdomen and the top of her boxers and spin," according to the filing. During the search, Johnson allegedly asked the teen what kind of undergarments she was wearing underneath her pants. The principal also ordered the student to lift her shirt up high enough so she could see her bra.
In addition to Johnson, Heartland Middle School, and Edmond Public Schools are also named as defendants. The lawsuit is seeking in excess of $25,000 in damages, plus attorney’s fees and costs.
The complaint claims that the minor was improperly and unreasonably subjected to a strip search and accuses the school, principal, and district of negligence, assault, and violating district policy and state law.
The lawsuit says the actions taken against the young girl were wrongful, extreme, and outrageous, transcending the bounds of all human decency. As a result of the search, the middle schooler suffered extreme emotional distress and hardship.
'Unreasonable searches and seizures'
The lawsuit also argues that the incident violated her Fourth Amendment rights, which protect people against unreasonable searches and seizures. And the action was also against Oklahoma law and Edmond Public Schools policy.
In a report by BuzzFeed News, Shelby Shelton, the attorney representing the student’s family told that they obtained body camera footage from a school official who was present during the incident through a public records request after the school initially refused to provide it.
According to both Oklahoma state law and the Edmond School District's student search and seizure policy, staffers are permitted to search students under reasonable suspicion. However, they are not permitted to strip-search the students, Shelton said.
