Two Black teens in Tennessee were jailed for wearing sagging pants. According to reports by WNCN, Antonio Ammons and another teen were in high school when a school resource officer noticed them wearing sagging pants.
But instead of allowing the students to be disciplined by school administrators, Officer Charles Woods decided to make it a criminal case. Woods arrested Ammons and another teen while they were at Bolivar Central High and charged them with indecent exposure.
Ammons, who didn’t have a criminal record, was forced to remain in jail for 48 hours because his family didn’t have enough money to pay the bond. Moreover, he was in a jail cell with adult males who had committed more severe offenses.
Charles Woods also charged the teen with an offense that does not constitute jail time. It’s not considered indecent exposure when a person wears sagging pants in Tennessee.
But Officer Woods found another way to criminalize a Black youth who didn’t deserve to be placed in the system. Ammons now has a criminal record for a charge that should have never been allowed to be implemented. Woods abused his power and what is really an indictment against Black youth culture.
Along with having a criminal record, Ammons must find a way to earn $250 for court costs and fines.
