Lawsuit: 14-year-old girl illegally ‘strip searched’ at Oklahoma school for nicotine vape pen

A middle school student from Oklahoma is alleged in a recent lawsuit to have been subjected to an illegal strip search by the school principal, who made her turn around and expose her bra after suspecting her of having a vape pen.

The mother of a 14-year-old girl claims in a lawsuit that was submitted at the start of this month that her daughter was told to lift her shirt high enough for the principal of the school to see her bra.

The incident allegedly happened at Heartland Middle School in 2021 when the young girl was thought to be in possession of a vape pen that contained nicotine. There are reports that the illegal strip search happened in a room with an open window overlooking the school’s common areas.

During the strip search, Veronica Johnson, the principal of the school, a school resource officer, and an additional student were allegedly present.

The principal of the school, Veronica Johnson, is named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

The student was made to “bare her abdomen and the top of her boxers and spin” during the strip search, per the court document. During the search, Johnson is said to have questioned the student about the kind of underwear she was wearing under her pants.

Johnson also told the student to lift her shirt so the principal could see her bra, according to the lawsuit’s allegations.

It is reported that no vape pens were found during the search, and no warrant was obtained before the incident on May 10, 2021.

In addition to Johnson, Heartland Middle School and Edmond Public Schools are listed as defendants in the lawsuit.

The legal complaint alleges that the minor was the victim of an unlawful and unwarranted strip search. It also charges the district, principal, and school of assault, negligence, and breaking state and district laws.

The actions taken against the young girl were deemed to be “wrongful, extreme, and outrageous,” going beyond the bounds of what was considered appropriate behavior.

The student allegedly went through “severe emotional distress and hardship” as a result of the strip search, according to the lawsuit.

According to the lawsuit, the student’s Fourth Amendment rights—which protect people from arbitrary searches and seizures—were violated by the strip search. It also claims that Edmond Public Schools policy and Oklahoma law were broken in the incident.

A settlement of more than $25,000 is sought in the lawsuit, along with reimbursement for legal fees and other costs incurred during the case.

The policy of Edmond Public Schools is in line with state law in Oklahoma, which clearly declares that “strip search of a student shall never be permitted.”

Except for the removal of students’ outerwear, strip searches are expressly forbidden by state and school policies.

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