Police in Georgia defended their decision Tuesday to handcuff and arrest a 6-year-old elementary student after the school called to report a juvenile had assaulted a principal and was damaging school property . Milledgeville police said they were called to Creekside Elementary School on Friday for an unruly juvenile , who was allegedly throwing a tantrum . According to their report , when the officer arrived , he observed kindergartner Salecia Johnson on the floor of the principal 's office screaming and crying . The officer stated in the report that he noticed damage to school property and tried numerous times to calm the girl , who eventually `` pulled away and began actively resisting and fighting with me . '' `` The child was then placed in handcuffs for her safety and the officer proceeded to bring her down to the police station , '' said Chief Dray Swicord . Despite the girl 's behavior , her family said police should not have been involved . `` I do n't think she misbehaved to the point where she should have been handcuffed and taken downtown to the police department , '' Johnson 's aunt , Candace Ruff , told CNN affiliate WMAZ . The girl was released to Ruff after numerous attempts to reach her parents failed , the police report said . Swicord said his department still has not heard from the girl 's mother or father . But the parents have spoken to reporters . `` Call the police ? Is that the first step ? '' Johnson 's mother , Constance Ruff , asked . Johnson 's mother said she wondered if there was `` any other kind of intervention '' the school could have used to help her daughter . `` They do n't have no business calling the police and handcuffing my child , '' said Salecia 's father , Earnest Johnson . Regardless of age , said Swicord , `` When a person is put in handcuffs it 's for their safety , it 's not a punishment . '' According to the police report , Johnson 's combative behavior included throwing furniture , including a small shelf , which struck the principal on the leg . The child was also observed `` biting the doorknob of the office and jumping on the paper shredder . '' The report stated Johnson also `` attempted to break a glass frame above the shredder . '' `` I noticed the damage to school property and possible assault of other students and staff , '' the responding officer said in the report . CNN reached out to Creekside Elementary for comment but was told the principal is assisting with statewide testing and was unable to respond . Johnson 's mother said her daughter was suspended and can not return to school until August . The 6-year-old was initially charged as a juvenile with simple battery of a schoolteacher and criminal damage to property , but the police chief said at a news conference Tuesday the girl would not be charged because of her age . `` The student was never placed in a holding cell , or jail cell , and the student 's safety was the utmost importance , '' Swicord said . He added she will be monitored by social agencies . Police notified the Department of Family and Children 's Services about the incident , which is not the first of its kind in recent memory . In 2005 , video of police in St. Petersburg , Florida handcuffing an unruly 5-year-old girl made headlines . In that case , the child could be seen pulling items form a bookcase , tearing papers from a bulletin board , climbing on a table and hitting a school official . The child appeared to have calmed down by the time police officers arrive , but began screaming as two officers , a man and a woman , stood her up , leaned her toward a table and handcuffed her . She was later turned over to her mother , who came to the school .
The episode recalls a 2005 incident in which a 5-year - old girl was arrested in Florida . A female 6-year - old is arrested after tantrum in principal 's office . Salecia ##h was handcuffed after several attempts to calm her down , police say . ` ` When a person is put in handcuffs it 's for their safety , it 's not a crime , '' says police .