A 14-year-old Virginia boy will stand trial for the theft of a milk carton worth 65 cents this November.
Ryan Turk was arrested by the Prince William County Police Department after a school official allegedly spotted him pocketing a carton of milk in the school cafeteria. Turk is enrolled in the school’s free lunch program. At the time he was an 8th grader at Graham Park Middle School. He is now a freshman in high school.
The alleged dairy bandit was charged with petit larceny and disorderly conduct. The disorderly conduct charge stems from his refusal to report to the principal’s office when confronted by a school security officer.
Turk was placed in handcuffs by officers and suspended by the school. His family alleges officers also searched him for drugs during the course of the arrest. Police say Turk repeatedly disregarded their instructions.
“When the officer attempted to escort him to the office, the student leaned back and pushed against the office,” a police department statement read. “As they were approaching the principal, the student attempted to push past the officer to get away. The student was subsequently handcuffed and taken to the office without further incident.” (RELATED: These Dildos Are Snitching On Their Users)
Turk, asserting his innocence throughout, declined to participate in a nonjudicial diversion program and instead elected to go to trial. Turk’s mother, an employee of the district, reviewed security camera footage of the alleged theft and claims the tape clearly shows her son was not attempting to conceal the milk cartoon. She further alleges that police and school officials unfairly targeted her son, who is black.
“No one needs to be punished for stealing a 65-cent carton of milk,” Emmet Robinson, a lawyer representing the family told the Washington Post. “This officer treats kids like they’re criminals, and guess what happens—they’re going to become criminals.”
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