Arizona father threatens school principal with citizen's arrest, zip tie over quarantine rules

Wielding zip ties, an Arizona father threatened the principal of his son's elementary school with a citizen's arrest upon learning his child would be required to quarantine after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

The school district confirmed that the father arrived Thursday morning at the Mesquite Elementary School with his son and two other men to protest the quarantine policy. The men told the principal, Diane Vargo, that they would conduct a citizen's arrest if the child was not permitted to enter the school building.

Schools in the state are required to report virus cases to the county health department, which in turn assesses who needs to quarantine. John Carruth, the district superintendent, said Thursday was a "tough day."

"One of the most powerful tools as adults is the behavior that we model to young people – and the behavior that was modeled today makes me really sad," he said. 

In August, Arizona GOP Gov. Doug Ducey said that state would not provide federal COVID-19 relief funds to public school districts that required students to ear masks.

"Parents are in the driver's seat, and it's their right to make decisions that best fit the needs of their children," he said at the time.