CPS student tased by cops files suit, attorney rips 'systemic failure'

A federal lawsuit filed late Wednesday claims the Chicago Board of Education, the city and two police officers violated the civil rights of a student who was shocked with a Taser during an altercation last month at her West Side school.

The suit accuses the police officers of using excessive force on 16-year-old student Dnigma Howard when she "was punched, tasered, stepped on and struck" by officers Johnnie Pierre and Sherry Tripp during the incident on Jan. 29 at Marshall High School, according to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court.

The suit also criticizes the Chicago Public Schools system and police for failing to provide officers assigned to the district with specific training and for violating the district's own guidelines for how police officers should interact with students.

Thursday morning, the girl's father, Laurentio Howard, and his attorney, Andrew M. Stroth, called on the city's leadership and next mayor to immediately address issues surrounding the vetting and use of police officers in the city's schools.

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