Mother of Johnson STEAM academy student sues school district, police officer over lunchroom incident

CEDAR RAPIDS — The mother of a fifth-grader at Johnson STEAM Academy claims in a federal lawsuit that a Cedar Rapids police officer dragged her child by the ponytail from the school cafeteria after she refused to switch seats, and then slammed her against a wall while cursing at her.

Lakeshia Hayes, the 10-year-old's mother, also claims in the lawsuit filed Friday that officer Glen Keiler pulled the girl into a room with no surveillance camera, threw her against a wall and 'began to shout and curse at her in such an aggressive manner that spit was flying' from his mouth into her face.

Hayes, through lawyer Michael P. Schmiege, who works for the Living and Driving While Black Foundation in Chicago, claims Keiler used excessive force, battery, false imprisonment and intentional infliction of severe emotional distress against the child last Tuesday.

The suit also claims negligence and failure to supervise by Cedar Rapids Superintendent Brad Buck and Candace Lynch, the Johnson principal.

Marcia Hughes, community relations supervisor for the school district, said Monday that district officials could not comment. The Cedar Rapids Police Department also does not comment on pending litigation, spokesman Greg Buelow said.

The lawsuit states Keiler had an 'aggressive and insulting manner' with Hayes when she asked what happened and then laughed and mocked her and her daughter as they left the school.

Hayes also claims that after she filed a complaint against Keiler at the police station, a man identifying himself at 'Officer Keeler' called her, saying he wanted to meet with her and talk about the incident at school. She told him she was at a gas station and he could meet her there.

David Lowery Jr., president of Living and Driving While Black Foundation, said Monday that Keiler called her, saying he was 'Keeler,' a police investigator. He inappropriately got her number from the school.

At the gas station, Keiler pulled in and blocked Hayes' car, the lawsuit states. Keiler then admitted to the incident, Hayes said.

Keiler begged to speak with the girl who was 'afraid for her safety and hysterically crying,' the Hayes said.

Keiler said he would buy the girl anything she wanted and put money in her hand.

Keiler eventually left and then Hayes took her daughter, who complained of head pain, to an emergency room, the lawsuit claims. Keiler then called Hayes again in an attempt to speak to the girl and get them to drop the complaint.

Schmiege said Monday the girl had a 'soft tissue trauma.'.

Lowery said the girl has been 'traumatized,' has nightmares and can't sleep. He said surveillance cameras captured both the incidents at school and the gas station.