Father Arrasted for Picking Kid up From School

Making a stand against what he considered a dangerous and illegal new school policy that forces parents to wait in a line of cars outside until children are released at 2:35pm, Jim Howe tried to walk his kids out of South Cumberland Elementary but was arrested and now faces charges of disorderly conduct.

“You don’t need a reason as a parent to go get your children. They are our children,” Howe states in a video of the incident.

The officer who made the arrest, Sheriff Deputy and School Resource Officer Avery Aytes, responds to Howe’s attempt to pick up his own children by stating, “I’m going to call some help down here and we’re going to take you up to the jail right now. I’m not putting up with this today. You’re being childish and it’s uncalled for.”

The school secretary attempts to get Howe to fill in a form to authorize the children to leave the school on their own, which Howe refuses to sign because he is escorting the children out of the school, stating, “They’re walking with me when school is dismissed, per state law.”

Aytes refuses to allow Howe to pick up his kids and then states, “The County jail is where you’re going,” to which Howe responds, “That’s fine I’ve been there before, adding, “You just opened yourself up for a lawsuit.”

The officer then accuses Howe of intimidating him, to which Howe responds, “I’m not raising my voice, I’m not confrontational, I want my kids.”

When Howe begins to quote Tennessee state law, the officer tells Howe to put his hands behind his back and proceeds to handcuff him. After walking Howe outside, Aytes then threatens to arrest Howe’s fiance Amanda Long who is filming the incident.