Student Sues for Police Abuse over Falling Asleep in Class

Officer reportedly slammed her into a file cabinet, arrested her

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (CN) - After a diabetic high school student fell asleep in study hall, the school police officer slammed her face into a filing cabinet, arrested her and took her to jail, she claims in court.

Tieshka Avery claims she was so violently abused that she vomited in the police car.

And all because she fell asleep reading "Huckleberry Finn."

Public school districts in the South have been accused of operating de facto "school to jail" programs, targeting minority students for arrest for minor infractions. The ACLU and the federal government have filed lawsuits alleging the practice.