The school district stated that handcuffing children was just one of the many “methods” the staff used.

"Mr. Patel’s celebrated arrival in this country to begin a new life with his son was interrupted in two tragic minutes," the judge wrote.

In addition to serious questions about use of force and why another unarmed person of color has died at the hands of Denver law enforcement, his case illustrates several systemic deficiencies of our criminal justice system, both in Denver and nationwide.

Police brutality is an ugly term we don't want to hear. Unfortunately, it's part of the necessary and sometimes nasty business called policing. Fortunately, it rarely occurs. But when it does -- it's big news.