Edmond Middle School Facing Lawsuit Over Alleged Strip Search Of Student

A parent in Edmond is suing her child's middle school after the mother claimed the school principal violated school policy, state law and her child's Fourth Amendment rights during a strip search.

In a civil lawsuit filed last week, the child's mother said the principal of Heartland Middle School forced a student to lift her shirt to see if the student was hiding a vape pen.

The Fourth Amendment of the US Constitution prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures.

The student's mother said this all unfolded on May 10, 2021, in view of not just the principal, but a school resource officer and another student, court documents said.

The lawsuit also said the search caused the student extreme emotional distress.

The parent said her daughter never had a vape at the time, and school officials never found one during the search.

The student is no longer at Heartland Middle School, and her mother is seeking thousands of dollars worth of damages.

News 9 has reached out to Edmond Public Schools for a statement, but the district said they cannot comment on litigation.