Student Turned Over to Police for 'Hangman' Doodle

Photo Credit: Google PlayA junior high school suspended a student and turned him over to police because of a “doodle” he drew showing a person being hanged, his father claims in court.

Robert Bernard Keller sued the Beaverton Police Department and Beaverton School District in Federal Court. Beaverton is a suburb of Portland.

Keller, suing for himself and his son, B.R.K., claims that on May 2, 2013, his 13-year-old son “was interviewed at his school, Raleigh Hills, K-8, by officers of the Beaverton Police Department regarding an alleged threat of harm based on a doodle that was drawn during class. B.R.K. was removed from his classroom and placed in the principal’s office of Raleigh Hills K-8 to be questioned about offenses that he was alleged to have committed. At no time did the officers or school obtain a warrant, contact the minor child’s parents to obtain parental consent, provide a counselor or attorney to the minor child or advise B.R.K. of his right against self-incrimination or provide an advocate who could explain.”

Keller claims that the principal had interviewed his son on April 30, and suspended him, for drawing the doodle. He claims that he and his wife met with school staff that day for an IEP (individual education program) meeting, “and were told that B.R.K. was doing fine,” though at the end of the meeting they were told that he was suspended, “effective immediately, pending a risk assessment.”