Boy Dies At Florida Boot Camp For Juvenile Offenders

The punishment did not fit the crime for a boy at boot camp. Was he restrained to death?

PENSACOLA, Fla. — A 14-year-old boy died Friday after officials said he had to be restrained by guards when he became uncooperative during the admission process at a boot camp for juvenile offenders.

Anderson had just arrived at the Panama City camp Thursday and was doing push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups and other exercises that are part of the camp’s physical fitness assessment when he became uncooperative and had to be restrained, said Ruth Sasser, spokeswoman for the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, which operates the boot camp.

“As to how much restraint, it is my understanding that it was not dramatic or unusual,” Sasser said.

Excerpts from Sun-Sentinel article