Mother sues M-DCPS Police, school board for $1M after daughter with autism is charged with battery over school incident

A South Florida mother is lawyering up and taking action against the Miami-Dade school board and school police department after her daughter, who has autism, was arrested and charged with battery.

The charge stems from an incident at the 21-year-old’s high school last year, where the student allegedly struck a teacher after her cellphone was confiscated.

Speaking with 7News on Tuesday, Esther King said, through tears, that since the incident, her daughter is afraid to return to school, fearing another run-in with the law.

“She’s afraid of going to school. She’s afraid that this may happen again,” she said.

Following the alleged incident, King’s daughter, Halle Hansen, was suspended from American Senior High School and charged with a crime.

Back in April, 7News featured King and her daughter, Halle Hansen’s, story. Nearly a month later, the family is taking their fight against the school district to a courtroom.

Their attorney, Michael Pizzi, shared the news of the lawsuit exclusively with 7News.

“An indictment. We are suing t...