Children should not be arrested for doing the right thing.

On April 19, 2012, Elyssia Carter, our 14- year-old daughter, was arrested after reporting to her high school office that she had just been involved in a cafeteria altercation.

We received a phone call from Elyssia stating that she had been in an altercation with another young lady and went to the office to report it. Our daughter informed us that the incident occurred in the cafeteria when a young lady first threw napkins at her and her friend, and they told her not to throw things at them because it was not funny. The young lady apologized and stated that she was only playing. Several minutes later, as Elyssia was speaking with her friend about her shoes, the same young lady threw lettuce at her with salad dressing on it, which landed on Elyssia's face and clothes. Our daughter stood up and told the young lady, "Don't you ever throw food at me!" The young lady proceeded to walk around the table to charge our daughter, at which point, Elyssia removed her shawl and remained in the same spot. A school staff member attempted to restrain the young lady. The young lady was still able to keep charging at Elyssia and began flailing her arms in an attempt to reach Elyssia, and Elyssia pushed the young lady away. At no point was any direction given to Elyssia to leave the scene. Elyssia gathered her things while the staff member attempted to fully retain the young lady and proceeded to the office to report the altercation to the principal, who, unfortunately, was out of the office. She was told to wait in the conference room and the assistant principal would be in to speak with her. My husband and I arrived at the school shortly after the phone call from our daughter and was told to wait in the assistant principal's office. The assistant principal and a Wauwatosa Resource officer, Officer Martin Keck, stepped out of the conference room after speaking with our daughter. The assistant principal stopped into the office to let us know that he had just spoken to Elyssia and was now on his way to find the other girl to get her side of the story. He returned less than 10 minutes later and began recounting the story to us. He stated the same information that was already previously told to us by our daughter. He explained to us that both girls would be issued a 1/2 day suspension and that he still needed to get statements from other witnesses in the cafeteria to include the cafeteria school staff member. There was a knock at the door, and Officer Martin Keck (Wauwatosa Resource Officer) stepped in and stated to my husband and I that our daughter, as well as the other young lady, would be getting arrested for disorderly conduct. When asked why, Officer Keck stated that because the incident took place in the cafeteria amidst hundreds of individuals, it was deemed disorderly conduct. My husband turned to the assistant principal and asked if the arrest was protocol. The assistant principal stated that it was protocol and that they take into account the students' records. Elyssia is an advanced student, winner of the Thomas E. Steiner Green and White award, which can only be received once in a student's entire high school life for exuding model behavior, and, most importantly, she has never been in a fight in her entire life. So … why the arrest?

Elyssia was scared, handcuffed, placed into a squad car, taken to the police station, fingerprinted, photographed, and then released with a disorderly conduct citation and is due to appear at the municipal court on June 25, 2012. We withdrew Elyssia from the school on the same day right after we were made aware that she had been arrested. She now has to be homeschooled to finish her last quarter.

On Friday, April 20, 2012, we attempted to retrieve a copy of Officer Keck's police report and were notified that it was not completed, and it could take up to 10 days before it would be ready. We spoke with the principal and vice principal of the school and received numerous apologies and requests to return Elyssia back to the school. However, after requesting a copy of the disciplinary form that was completed by the assistant principal, we noted several discrepancies per our conversation with the assistant principal, as well as, the information that was shared with my spouse from the principal after the principal had conducted his own investigation. In addition, the report had several strikethroughs and modifications, and the disciplinary action noted conflicted with the initial 1/2 day suspension shared with us by the assistant principal.

As parents, we teach Elyssia to always go to the office and speak with the principal, be forthcoming with information, and call her parents. Our daughter followed our instructions, reported to the office, spoke with the assistant principal, and was arrested. Elyssia -- NOT the cafeteria staff member or another teacher -- reported the altercation. We cannot understand why the principal and vice principal have been privately apologetic, but publicly silent. We privately console our daughter, as she believes the world sees her as a criminal, undisciplined, and violent. We are publicly trying to set the record straight and reclaim our daughter's innocence.

A simple detailed 411 investigation would have prevented a 911 reaction. We are asking that you please sign our petition to prevent further incidents like this from occurring to other children who report an altercation as taught by their loved ones -- only to end up in handcuffs.

Thank you for your support - Kimberly and Murphy Smith