A Brownsville mother is outraged and taking on both the local school district and the police department.
Rosa Izaguirre has claimed both organizations unlawfully took advantage of her 10-year-old daughter.
Izaguirre said Wednesday her daughter, Vanessa, came home from school on June 1, 2009, terrified and crying.
Izaguirre said she found out a detective from the Brownsville Police Department sought out her daughter with the intention of interrogating her about an incident involving her mentally ill father.
The 10-year-old girl has no communication with her father due to his illness.
"It really messed up my daughter physically, mentally and emotionally," said Izaguirre . "Do you understand that I stayed up with my daughter until 2 or 3 a.m. crying with her by her bedside?"
Izaguirre contacted several administrators with the Brownsville Police Department, who she said sided with her at first.
"One administrator told me, 'well to tell you the truth, under Texas law, you cannot interrogate any students or minors without the parents' consent," Izaguirre said.
Izaguirre claimed the detective also showed the 10-year-old graphic pictures of her father.
"I did not say they could show my daughter any pictures of her dad beat up," Izaguirre said. "That is what really disturbed me."
Izaguirre said she is also upset that administrators at Ortiz Elementary School did nothing to stop the officer from questioning the child, even though the law is posted in a student handbook.
The handbook issued by the Brownsville Independent School District states that the school is responsible for contacting a parent when officials seek out a student.
Izaguirre demanded answers as to why that protocol was not followed.
Action 4 News contacted both the Brownsville Police Department and BISD for comment but both organizations weren't available to speak about the issue.
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