MESA, Ariz. — Friday marked one week since Mesa police arrested a 17-year-old student at Westwood High School. The Arizona State Conference of the NAACP called the arrest, which was caught on video, "disturbing and troubling."
The family of Tyra White said she was arrested after standing up for herself after weeks of bullying at school.
Video of the arrest appears to show her being touched by a student. Her family said she was trying to get a nearby security guard to help stop the student from touching her.
According to Mesa police, an officer tackled White after she tried to attack an assistant principal with a mechanical pencil. Officials said White made suicidal and homicidal comments.
The NAACP said they have spoken with Mesa police and Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell about the case.
White is still being held at the Maricopa County Juvenile Detention Center.
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.
Watch 12News+ for free
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app!
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX."
Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.