Police officer fired after arresting two six-year-old children over incidents at school

A policeman has been fired after arresting two six-year-old children following incidents at their school.

Authorities said Dennis Turner arrested the pupils on Thursday while working as a resource officer at a charter school in Orlando, Florida.

Mr Turner did not obtain the approval of a commanding officer before making the arrests, as is required for children under the age of 12, Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolon said.

He added that he was "sick to his stomach" when he heard what had happened.

He also apologised to the families of the children, adding that he could "understand how traumatic this was for everyone involved."

Florida State Attorney Aramis Ayala told a news conference that Mr Turner charged both the youngsters with misdemeanour battery.

She added: "These very young children are to be protected, nurtured, and disciplined in a manner that does not rely on the criminal justice system to do it.

"Systems are not designed to raise our children."

The grandmother of one of the children said that her six-year-old granddaughter was arrested after having a tantrum.

She said she received a call that the girl had kicked a staff member at the school, had been charged with battery and was on her way to the juvenile assessment centre.

Speaking to WKMG, she said: “No six-year-old child should be able to tell somebody that they had handcuffs on them and they were riding in the back of a police car."

Police have not disclosed the children's names, their genders or what led to the arrests.

Mr Turner, who had earlier been suspended over the arrests, could not be reached for comment.