The day after his arrest , Regina took her nephew to the urgent care centre , where a doctor ’ s report confirmed his injuries .
Keitherine Williams , claimed he later woke up in a jail cell and a medical examination revealed his injuries were consistent with blunt force trauma .
The 18-year-old was confronted by two sheriff ’ s deputies after school staff spotted him holding a vape device in a restroom .
The officers stopped Williams as he was leaving Dickinson High School in Texas , before they reportedly beat and ‘ abused ’ him in a violent arrest .
Graphic photos taken after the incident show the teen with a swollen and bruised face , as well as what appeared to be grazes and abrasions spread across his head .
Regina Williams , Keitherine ’ s aunt and legal guardian , said she watched some footage of the arrest and claims she saw cops pin her nephew and put a knee on his neck and back .
The teen has since been charged with resisting arrest and of being a minor in possession of tobacco .
The Galveston Sheriff ’ s department – who ’ s website boasts that it ’ s ‘ committed to the protection of life ’ and serving people with ‘ respect and sensitivity ’ - has launched an internal investigation into the use of force from the officers in question .
Reportedly , the school board also apologised , but Regina was appalled that the incident was allowed to happen in the first place .
She added : “ They abused , neglected and disrespected his ability and his needs … for them to do that I feel like somebody needs to be held responsible .”
Sadly , this is the latest in a string of ordeals where school children have been ‘ brutalised ’, beaten and , in some cases , even strip searched over alleged e-cigarette use .
In the past twelve months alone , Vapouround has reported on several of these shocking incidents , including a teen who was tased for vaping in Maryland and a group of young girls who say they were strip searched by school staff in a hunt for hidden vapes .
Furious and appalled harm reduction advocates maintain that , despite preaching the need to protect children , it ’ s anti-vaping lobbyists and their needless war on e-cigarettes that is putting kids at risk .
Paul Blair , Vice President of Government Affairs for Turning Point Brands , said : “ The enforcement of anti-vaping policies has harmed more people than the actual act of vaping … let that sink in .
“ At some point , government and activist advocates are going to have to acknowledge the real-world consequences of their absurd alarmist policies .
“ This most recent example is morally repugnant ; this seriously makes me sick .”
She said : “ It ’ s wrong for anybody to brutalise , slam or hurt any kid at school ; we send our kids to school to be safe , not to come home hurt because of a vape .”
25