US: Police officer suspended after arresting six-year-old black girl for misbehaving at school

Another child, aged eight years old, was also arrested by Orlando police officer Dennis Turner on the same day, but only the six-year-old girl’s family has spoken out.

The girl’s grandmother, Meralyn Kirkland, told NBC that her granddaughter was handcuffed and taken away in a police car after allegedly kicking another pupil, though police deny that she was photographed or fingerprinted.

In a statement issued after the arrest sparked national outrage, Orlando Police Department said Mr Turner had violated its policy for arresting people under the age of 12 by failing to secure permission from his supervisors.

Neither child is facing any further action and Mr Turner has been suspended from his duties, TIME reports.