A 14-year-old student at Bakersfield High School in California sustained third-degree burns after campus security officers pinned her to a metal plate on August 25. The incident occurred after a physical altercation between the student, Bridgette Chocoteco, and a fellow student, which escalated when a teacher attempted to intervene.
According to Chocoteco, the teacher grabbed her arm, and after she pulled away twice, she struck the teacher. School security then intervened, tackling her onto a metal plate that had been exposed to the sun in temperatures reaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Chocoteco stated she was held on the plate for approximately two minutes, during which her exposed skin suffered severe burns. She reported that she was screaming that she was burning and that officers intensified their hold, with one remarking, "that's what I get."
When her mother arrived at the hospital, she found her daughter receiving burn treatment. Chocoteco suffered third-degree burns on her stomach and thigh. The metal plate had the inscription 'electric high voltage' on it. Her mother expressed shock at the severity of the injuries, stating, "It was just disgusting—how they did her."
Chocoteco is currently receiving treatment for her burns at a hospital in Fresno. Her mother remains by her side. Chocoteco's account suggests that if she had been given time to calm down, the situation might not have escalated to this point.