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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPennsylvania cops Taser handcuffed 14-year-old in the face ‘for his safety’
A mother in Pennsylvania is threatening to sue after officers shocked her 14-year-old son in the face with a Taser while he was handcuffed.
Mother Marissa Sargeant showed WCAU graphic photos of what the boys face looked like after he was arrested with an older relative for retail theft at a local Walmart.
What he did was wrong, she admitted. He was coerced by a 19-year-old. He does know better.
According to Bucks County District Attorney David Heckler, Tullytown officers fired a Taser and hit the boy in the face when he escaped from their police cruiser and began to flee. The district attorney asserted that the 14-year-old was not able to stop his face from hitting the pavement because he was handcuffed, causing the bruising seen in the photos.
Heckler said that the officers were forced to use the Taser on the child because they were fearing for his safety, WCAU reported.
But Sargeant doesnt buy that story.
That doesnt sound right. Theres no way, if he was running from behind, that he would get hit with a taser in the front of his face, she observed.
She speculated that officers beat her son and then frightened him into not telling.
I just want some justice. I even pray for the police officers because they need help, Sargeant said.
The family has hired Center City attorney Fortunato Perri Jr., who plans to file a complaint against the Tullytown Police Department.
We intend to develop the facts and circumstances a bit further, Perri remarked. But just simply with the nature of the injuries that occurred in this case, I think its clear that the police used excessive force. Thats what were investigating at this point.
Watch the video from WCAU, broadcast Nov. 19, 2013.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/11/20/pennsylvania-cops-taser-handcuffed-14-year-old-in-the-face-for-his-safety/
Warpy
(111,222 posts)Still, the alternative in the bad old days would have gotten him shot with a .38.
mythology
(9,527 posts)Per Stephen Coleman's TED talk, it was found that giving police non-lethal tools like tasers or pepper spray resulted in no fewer deaths from police actions, but thousands of instances of uses of the non-lethal tools. So in fact giving the police those tools resulted in more violence from police to citizens than would have existed otherwise.
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)Thank you for posting this.
Warpy
(111,222 posts)I'd like to see firing a taser treated the same as firing a gun, with a department investigation afterward to see if it was justified. Many times, it is not.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)just for fun.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)Because it's better than getting shot with a .38 caliber isnt adequate justification for tasing him in the face.
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)for tasing him in the face."
Thank you. Sheesh.
peace13
(11,076 posts)Last edited Thu Nov 21, 2013, 01:48 AM - Edit history (1)
Sickening!
gollygee
(22,336 posts)Wow wow wow.
The mom in me is freaking out.