No Charges for Officer Who Kicked Teen

Prosecutors said a Boynton Beach Police office seen on video kicking a restrained teen’s legs out from under him will not face criminal charges.

The video first surfaced last month and showed Officer Germaine Jones of the Boynton Beach Police department delivering a sweeping kick to thirteen-year-old Kevens Jean Baptiste. The teen said the kick “sweeped me off the ground” and that the officer “didn’t say nothing” before putting him in the squad car.

The state attorney’s office for Palm Beach County said the Baptiste had been “disruptive and profane” and had chest-bumped another officer. Prosecutors said the action taken by Jones controlled the teen and was not done with malicious intent.

Police said they responded to the scene after eggs were allegedly thrown at the driver of the boy’s bus. Jean Baptiste said police were called after he was kicked off the school bus for refusing to follow the driver’s order to keep the windows closed. No students were charged.

A separate internal police investigation is still ongoing.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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