SACRAMENTO - An anonymous former student sued Parlier Unified School District, the City of Parlier, School Resources Officer Neil O'Brien and Parlier principal George Alvarado after he was allegedly assaulted by O'Brien, according to documents filed on Feb. 25 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.
The plaintiff, identified in the suit as JM, was 16 and a student at the Parlier High School. JM is Latino American and was in an individualized education program (IEP) due to his learning disabilities and ADHD.
On Aug. 27, 2019, JM was sent to the principal's office. Principal Alvarado did not contact JM's mother, as is protocol. JM called his mother from his personal cell phone instead, the suit says.
Officer O'Brien allegedly came to the office and yelled at JM to put away his phone. When the plaintiff did not comply, the school resource officer then violently took the phone and slammed the handcuffed teenager against the counter, according to the lawsuit.
JM is represented by James Quadra of Quadra and Coll, LLP.