A 14-year-old student is receiving hospital treatment after suffering severe burns during an encounter with security staff at Bakersfield High School in California.
The incident reportedly happened on August 25, 2026.
Bridgette Chocoteco said it began after she fought with another student. A teacher later grabbed her arm.
“The lady grabbed me, like twice, and I yanked my arm back the first time. And then I yanked it again, and I told her to let go of me. And she didn’t, so I hit her,” Bridgette told KGET 17 News.
Campus security officers then intervened.
Bridgette alleges that the officers tackled her and restrained her on a metal utility plate that had been exposed to the sun.
Temperatures in Bakersfield were reportedly around 100 degrees Fahrenheit at the time.
She said she remained on the hot surface for approximately two minutes.
“I was screaming that I was burning and they just kind of held me even harder. One of them said that’s what I get,” she claimed.
Bridgette suffered serious burns to her stomach and thighs. Photographs also show injuries to her face.
The teenager admitted that hitting the teacher was wrong. However, she said that did not justify the way security staff allegedly treated her.
“I know my actions weren’t right, but that doesn’t excuse theirs,” she said.
Her mother, Kristian Chocoteco, said the school did not explain how serious her daughter’s injuries were.
She expected to see bumps or bruises when she arrived at the hospital. Instead, she found Bridgette with severe burns and wet towels covering parts of her body.
“I was in shock. I had to walk away because I didn’t want to cry in front of her,” her mother said.
Bridgette was transferred to a hospital in Fresno for specialist burn treatment.
Students at Bakersfield High School later staged a walkout to demand an investigation and greater accountability.
The account involving the security officers remains an allegation. The full circumstances surrounding the initial fight, the restraint and the response by school staff have not been independently established.
Photos below(viewers’ discretion is advised)
