Laurel student to file lawsuit over T-shirt arrest

Monday, Nov. 21, 2005

A Laurel High School student and his mother plan to file a lawsuit against the Prince George’s County Police and the county school system after the teenager was arrested on Nov. 8.

Police charged sophomore David Jahangiri, 15, with two counts of assault, one count of resisting arrest and one count of disorderly conduct because he failed to remove a “Stop Snitching“ T-shirt after being asked to by school security officers.

But Jahangiri and his attorneys, who announced their intention to file during a press conference Nov. 18, say the school’s and police reaction went overboard. They violated his First and Fourth Amendment rights to freedom of expression and freedom from unreasonable seizure, said District-based attorney Gregory Lattimer.

The T-shirt stems from a street-distributed DVD in Baltimore City that recently has raised much controversy as a witness intimidation tool. Jahangiri, who attended school in another state until May, said he was unaware of that controversy and only wore the shirt because it was a fad.

Laurel High School Principal Dwayne Jones said Jahangiri was arrested for assaulting two staff members – an investigative counselor and a security assistant who asked him to remove and reverse his T-shirt on the morning of Nov. 8 – and then resisting arrest when the school resource officer got involved.

But Jahangiri said he never refused to take the shirt off, only insisted on first being able to get his student identification card that he was waiting in line for so he could get to class on time.

Lattimer said the lawsuit’s aim is to assert Jahangiri’s right to wear the T-shirt, as well as assure his right to a good education is not damaged by this event. He currently is not allowed back on school property, but has not been given any meaningful alternative to continuing his education while the case is resolved.

“The school is failing the child“ by not allowing his education to continue in the meantime, Lattimer said. “Prince George’s County initiated this foolishness over a shirt.“