A 14-year-old schoolgirl was strip searched and forced to show her bra in front of her headteacher during a search for a vape, it is claimed.
The student, who attends Heartland Middle School in Oklahoma, US, was accused of bringing in a nicotine vape pen into the school campus.
In a lawsuit filed against the school from the daughter's mum, it is claimed the student was subjected to a strip search in a room “with an uncovered window that has a clear view to general access areas of the school."
The mum also claims her daughter was asked to lift her shirt high enough so Veronica Johnson, the school's headteacher, could “view the minor child’s bra.”
The strip search was conducted in front of Ms Johnson, a school resource officer and another student.
Ms Johnson is named as a defendant in the lawsuit along with Edmond Public Schools and Heartland Middle School.
The schoolgirl alleges she was forced to “bare her abdomen and the top of her boxers and spin,” according to the lawsuit.
In addition, Ms Johnson allegedly asked the teen what kind of undergarments she was wearing underneath her pants during the strip search.
The school staff did not find the vape and the incident, which took place on May 10, 2021 had no warrant.
The lawsuit claims the schoolgirl was "improperly and unreasonably subjected to a strip search" which left her suffering from "emotional distress."
Lawyers also accuse the school, headteacher and district of negligence, assault and violating the district policy and state law.
The lawsuit says the strip search was “wrongful, extreme, and outrageous, transcending the bounds of all human decency.”
The mum is seeking $25,000 (£20,000) in damages, plus lawyer fees and any other costs occurred after the student “suffered extreme emotional distress and hardship” following the traumatic ordeal.
In addition, the lawsuit claims the strip search violated the schoolgirl's Fourth Amendment rights, which protect people against unreasonable searches and seizures.
They also claim the search violated Oklahoma law and Edmond Public Schools policy.
Edmond Public Schools’ policy states that “in no event shall a strip search of a student be allowed.”
According to Oklahoma state law, the state and school’s policies forbids strip searches which involve removing students’ clothes.
