NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Metro Council has approved a settlement in a lawsuit involving a former John Overton High School student who was reportedly wrongly arrested after a school threat.

The case stems from a 2023 incident at Overton High School, where a 16-year-old student called 9-1-1, worried there was an active shooter at the school.

The lawsuit claims the school was placed on lockdown after a separate report was made to the Metro Nashville Police Department about a potential shooter on campus. The 16-year-old was taken to a classroom with other students to take shelter, where he and one of his friends allegedly made a panicked phone call to 9-1-1 to report what was happening.

MNPD officers were dispatched to the school, and determined that there was no threat. The lawsuit said the 16-year-old was accused of making a hoax call and arrested in front of other students.

He was brought to the Davidson County Juvenile Justice Center, where investigators listened to his phone call to emergency services, and released him. Upon his return to school the following day, he was informed by the school's principal that he was expelled.

The student later had both his arrest record cleared and his expulsion reversed. This week, Metro Council voted to settle his lawsuit and to pay $70,000 for what he went through.

In that meeting, Metro Councilmember Delishia Porterfield said, "I understand the severity of hoax calls, so I understand why MNPD and MNPS have to act on this with such seriousness, but no matter the severity of an issue, people should have due process, people should have the opportunity to speak on what is happening. This student experienced the trauma of not only being afraid in school because they thought it was an active shooter, but then they were handcuffed and taken out of the school."

"I also want to make clear to our students that they should feel like they can call 9-1-1 if they believe somebody is shooting in a school, or somebody has a gun in a school. They should feel that they can call law enforcement to help them. They shouldn't have to stop and say 'Is law enforcement already here? Is this the right time?' Our children are terrified," said Councilmember Quin Evans Segall.

In a statement, the student's attorney said, "At this point, [he] is just glad to put this behind him. His rights were violated when all he did was ask for help… He is in college now, and is looking forward to moving on with his life."

The settlement officially resolves the student's lawsuit against the city. Metro Nashville Public Schools and Metro legal declined to comment.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/metro-nashville-to-settle-lawsuit-involving-hoax-school-threat-arrest/