Shocking Video: Howard County Parent Arrested At Education Forum
TOWSON, Md. (WJZ) -- A Howard County man faces criminal charges after refusing to keep quiet at a state education forum.
Pat Warren reports the confrontation was recorded and is raising questions.
The forum was held Thursday night in Towson. The Department of Education had set some ground rules. The trouble started when a parent disobeyed those rules and a Baltimore County police officer, acting as security, stepped in.
Video posted on YouTube shows what happened when a parent wouldn't be silenced.
"Don't stand for this. You're sitting here like cattle. You have questions. Confront them. They don't want to do it in public... Hey, is this America?" Robert Small said.
Small was questioning a new curriculum called "Common Core."
According to the Department of Education, participants were asked to submit their questions in writing in order to get through as many as possible in a short period of time.
"Parents, you need to question these people," Small said.
Small is charged with assaulting a police officer. His attorney tells WJZ because it is a criminal charge, Small will not discuss the arrest at this time.
A conviction on the assault charge carries a $2,500 fine and up to 10 years in prison.
Small is also charged with disturbing a school operation, which carries a $2,500 fine and six months in jail.
