Ohio school settles lawsuit after fake cop handcuffs students and drives them to detention center
AKRON, Ohio October 11 2019— An Ohio school district has settled one of five federal lawsuits filed by families upset over how their children were treated when a man claiming to be a police officer conducted fake “scared straight” programs.
The Akron Beacon Journal reports Akron Public Schools agreed to pay $90,000 to the family of a minor identified as X.C.
Christopher Hendon, of Akron, pleaded guilty last year to numerous counts of impersonating a police officer, kidnapping and abduction.
He was sentenced to 5 years and 11 months in prison.
Hendon entered two Akron area schools wearing law enforcement tactical gear, including a badge, firearm, and Taser.
Prosecutors say he took children in handcuffs from schools to jail or a juvenile detention center.
Hendron was a security guard at the time.
The lawsuit accused the district of violating X.C.’s constitutional rights by allowing Hendon to operate the program.
The district didn’t admit any wrongdoing under the agreement.
The district and the family’s lawyers declined to comment.
