Mom Arrested after Girl Leaves School

FOREST HILL, Texas - Police got involved in a dispute at an elementary school Wednesday when a mother confronted administrators demanding to know how her 8-year-old daughter was able to walk away from campus.

Shavaun Smiley said her wrist was badly bruised when two police officers handcuffed and arrested her at Harlean Beale Elementary in Forest Hill.

She was irate because her daughter Zaniya Badger had somehow walked out of the school building shortly after classes began and headed down a busy street.

Smiley confronted administrators and they called police.

“I’m just a concerned parent trying to protect my child and I’m getting arrested! This is what I pay for with my tax dollars,” Smiley said.

Interim Chief Robert Herbert said officers tried to calm the mother down. When she refused, they arrested her.

“At the point when her belligerence was getting out of control is when we took enforcement action against her,” Herbert said.

Smiley said she could not remain calm knowing her daughter had been able to walk away from school.

Fort Worth Independent School District’s spokesman said no one saw the girl leave.

A driver spotted her about a mile away from school and called police.

The third grader later told police and her family that she wasn’t feeling well and she was afraid her teacher would not let her see the nurse. She was headed to her grandmother’s house, she said.