News Article: 16-year-old honor student charged w/ 2 felonies for science experiment

[banjeaux]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/01/kiera-wilmot-arrested-science-experiment_n_3194768.html

Kiera Wilmot, 16, arrested and expelled for explosive 'science experiment'

What Kiera Wilmot claims started as a harmless experiment is now a nightmare for the 16-year-old Florida native.

Wilmot, a Bartow High School student, was arrested at her school last week for allegedly detonating a water bottle filled with an explosive concoction of common household chemicals. According to the Miami New Times, "[a] police report ... Indicates Wilmot mixed toilet bowl cleaner and aluminum foil -- a combination that has inspired hundreds of youtube videos and generally produces a fairly unimpressive explosion."

One teen told Florida-based WTPS News 10 that Wilmot merely wanted to see what would happen when those chemicals mixed.

The experiment reportedly created a small explosion that caused the bottle's top to pop off and produced smoke. Although no one was hurt and no property was damaged, Wilmot was charged with “possession/discharge of a weapon on school property and discharging a destructive device,” according to WTSP. Both charges are felonies.

Kiera Wilmot, 16, arrested and expelled for explosive 'science experiment'

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Dang, they cuffed her when they arrested her! What asshats!

 

[skrayper77]

Imagine if she had built a volcano... they would have labeled her a terrorist AND an evil mastermind.

 

[TideMan09]

I can understand & appreciate the heightened sensitivity towards acts like this by our law enforcemnet..But..They need to use more common sense towards something like this..JMO

 

[JPT4Bama]

Welcome to the world of education. This is a great example of public school systems setting down rules so that teachers, principals and administrators do not have to make decisions. Everything is set down in their policy and procedures.

My oldest son (8 years old at the time) was charged with assault in the second grade because he snatched a show and tell object from the other kid who refused to share. His young teacher later said it was her fault as my son was raising his hand over and over as he had been told to do but she did not respond to his proper request. She was 2 years out of college and just as pretty as she was clueless.

I got a call from the school and was told by the principal that our son had assaulted another student. I asked how does a 2nd grader even do this? He said the rules were the same across the board for K5 through 12 for Birmingham City Schools. I had to sign something and the matter was dropped but not until I had to leave work to see about this in person.

This was in an highly regarded alternative school to boot yet no one there was smart enough to realize how stupid they were.

Needless to say this helped us decide we had to get out of Birmingham as soon as we could afford to.

 

[JPT4Bama]

double post :biga2:

 

[Crimson1967]

Was she doing this as part of a science class or was she just doing this to be doing it? If it was the latter, some sort of punishment would be in order, but pressing criminal charges is over the top.

 

[Crimson1967]

Imagine if she had built a volcano... they would have labeled her a terrorist AND an evil mastermind.

 

[danb]

Was she doing this as part of a science class or was she just doing this to be doing it? If it was the latter, some sort of punishment would be in order, but pressing criminal charges is over the top.

I agree.........

It sounds as though she was curious as to the reaction that would occur mixing the two items and had no intent on causing harm. If the felonies stand, it will pretty much screw her up for life unless it gets sealed in her juvenile record.

Years ago, I worked at a radiator repair shop and we'd make little "bombs" similar to that all the time. Pour a little of the acid cleaner into a 20oz bottle and put a piece of scrap aluminum in there and cap it off. All it does is build pressure until the bottle can't hold it in and the weakest point of the bottle lets go with a loud pop. It is not an explosive mix as you'd think of when they report "explosive". You're definitely not going to use it as a mass destruction weapon.....just scare the heck out of someone who doesn't know it's about to go off!

 

[Bodhisattva]

Once again an intelligent and creative mind is sqaushed by wise government policy.

 

[Bamaro]

Once again an intelligent and creative mind is sqaushed by wise government policy.

Maybe not the policy so much as those who mindlessly implement it.

 

[bamachile]

My 8year-old nephew was recently suspended from a north Georgia elementary school for arm wrestling another boy during recess. Mindless implementation is a pretty apt descriptor.

Once again an intelligent and creative mind is sqaushed by wise government policy.

Maybe not the policy so much as those who mindlessly implement it.

I think they go hand in hand. The whole point of these policies seems to favor mindless implementation, or even require it. To quote a friend of mine (He's a good Marine, just overlook the fact that he's a drummer:wink,

Welcome to the world of education. This is a great example of public school systems setting down rules so that teachers, principals and administrators do not have to make decisions. Everything is set down in their policy and procedures.

 

[jthomas666]

1. The police officer who cuffed the girl, as well as the school board members who are shamelessly hiding behind "policy", should be publicly horsewhipped.

2. IF this crap actually gets to trial, the judge should take the opportunity to call the above parties out. At least the principal showed some common sense.

3. Florida.

 

[Bodhisattva]

Maybe not the policy so much as those who mindlessly implement it.

I agree with bamachile, mindless implementation is the nature of "no tolerance" policies. They should be called "no thought" policies.

Some years ago I had a neighbor whose daughter was a brilliant student - one of the good kids who could be a great achiever. She got braces and because she didn't want to get an apple peal stuck in in her braces, she brought a small paring knife to school. At lunch she started pealing her apple, and got expelled from school for bringing a deadly weapon to school. I somehow don't think damaging a promising academic career over this is an example of wisdom.

Like many government policies, the result is to damage the intelligent/achievers and coddle the stupid/losers.

 

[MattinBama]

She needs to be sent to Gitmo before she gets her hands on Mentos and Coke & really causes some trouble.

 

[BAMAFAN IN NY]

She knew what was gonna happen. She didnt just "invent" this idea. She saw it on youtube and wanted to re create it. Shes obviously an idiot for doing this at school. She should be punished.. but not a felony.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I don't have an issue with some form of discipline by the school. But talk about overkill. A felony?

 

[Displaced Bama Fan]

Once again an intelligent and creative mind is sqaushed by wise government policy.

Exactly. Governmental stupidity at it's finest. Instead of getting praised for her ingenuity, she's handcuffed and charged with a crime. I'm so sick of the PC police in our schools.

 

[seebell]

She ain't too smart. She set it off on school property by the pond. Not in Chemistry lab. I guess a pipe bomb could be a science experiment. This charge will be pled down to just about nothing.

 

[TexasBama]

I guess that electrolysis demonstration I did in 8th grade science class is now labeled creating a WMD

 

[seebell]

I guess that electrolysis demonstration I did in 8th grade science class is now labeled creating a WMD

You did a hair removal project in the 8th grade?