Written by In February 2018, Officer Kyle Rooney, serving as a School Resource Officer at Narragansett High School, confronted 11th-grade student Michael Blanchette regarding his presence in the hallway. After a brief exchange, Blanchette gave Rooney the middle finger and began to walk away. Rooney then grabbed Blanchette and violently slammed him to the ground, restraining him for several minutes before escorting him out in handcuffs. Blanchette was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest; both charges were later dismissed. A federal lawsuit filed by the ACLU alleged violations of Blanchette’s Fourth and First Amendment rights, as well as assault and false charges. In April 2023, the case was settled with the school district agreeing to pay Blanchette $75,000 in damages, without admitting liability.
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