Autistic Child Tasered By Police

KOIN News6 ^ | 12/23/2006 | KOIN

[MovementConservative]

PORTLAND - An autistic child was tasered by police in the early morning hours of Dec. 5, when he was found walking shirtless and shoeless down the Broadway Bridge.

According to his great-grandmother, Sir J. Millage has an extremely severe case of autism. He also has a disease where cannot feel extremes in temperature, which is why he was able to be out in cold weather without clothing. His head swerves from side to side and he has outbursts of profanity that can last from three hours to three days due to Tourettes syndrome. He has never been known to be physically violent.

When police saw the 5'10", 260 pound 15-year-old walking down the bridge, they say they were unaware of his illness. Police say it appeared he was holding a metal rod or stick. After Millage did not respond to commands, officers used tasers and struck him with a baton.

Millage lives with his great-grandmother Pastor Mary Overstreet Smith in Portland. She says he snuck out a window that night and the incident with police "tore her heart out." She says that because of his low intelligence level, he cannot respond to commands and that police should be able to tell the difference between a person who has autism and one that is high on drugs.

Smith says that her grandson now constantly thinks people want to shoot him and says he would like to return to his other home in Arizona.

Police are standing by their decision to use force, claming that Millage was acting aggressively. They say decisions must be made in a split second and they did the best they could.

[MovementConservative]

There was a time I can remember when police went out on the streets with the intention of serving and protecting the public. Now it seems the main goal of police is to come home uninjured.
I guess the old heros who knew how to handle difficult people and events have all retired and been replaced with the next generation of cop who have a different agenda.

[mhx]

A three day long outburst of profanity? I hope it's not just a single word.

[GOPyouth]

A 5'10 250 pound 15 year old is not a child. A 5 year old is a child.

[Jaysun]

It's not just the police that have changed, but the times as well. It's a bit more difficult when you have to face unrestrained youths who are willing and able to do any harm. And the mentally disabled were dealt with in a different way then too. To place the majority of the blame on the police is unfair and misguided.

[smonk]

indeed. that's a big "child".

[JustaDumbBlonde]

Personally, I hope they continue to come home uninjured. There was also a time when children didn't roam the streets at night, many of them with the intent to cause harm to something or someone. Times have changed much more than law enforcement officers.

[cripplecreek]

Couldn't have said it better.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

I was apparently still composing my post while you were posting your thoughts. Amazingly similar ...

[jazusamo]

I guess the old heros who knew how to handle difficult people and events have all retired and been replaced with the next generation of cop who have a different agenda.

You're painting with a pretty broad brush, MC.

[SoftballMominVA]

5'10 and 260!! That 'child' looked like an adult to the police. Not only that, he was shirtless and shoeless and cursing which could indicate possible drug use. In addition, the police thought he had some sort of weapon--Wow! I'm impressed they only tasered him. Just because he is autistic, that doesn't preclude him from a violent act.

Maybe the mom should make sure is window is secured in a way that he cannot climb out without notice. Even an alarm would work.

Another instance of someone wanting to put responsibility on another rather than making the proper precautions.

[riverrunner]

I guess you are a mind reader and a expert on telling the difference's in how a person acts to what his trouble is in just seconds.

I guess the next time you see some one half naked walking on a cold day you should just walk up to them and give them a friendly hug.

Then if they turn out to be a half or fully crazy and they beat the crap out of you. You can go on with our life if you can knowing you tried your best to help them out.

Or your could use the best tools available to you not only protect your self plus the person you are dealing without getting your self hurt in the process.

A 510 260 lb young man with Autism is fully capable of breaking your nose, jaw or some other parts of your body if he decides to hit you to grab your and twist one of your limbs.

I don't care what is making this person act out if he is going to be violent towards me he gets what is coming to him.

[KarinG1]

To be honest, I don't like cops in general and would normally take the other side if I could see a way to. In this case I cannot. I would have tasered him myself.

[sheana]

Maybe because of all the garbage the police face on the street each and everyday, they just don't want to be dead heroes.

[Ben Mugged]

This is unfortunate but the police cannot reasonably be expected to discern the difference between drug induced rage and autism in a 5'10" 260 pound male. In addition to "serving and protecting" the public, they have a responsibility to protect themselves as well.

[Dallas59]

99% of 5'10, 250 pound, 15 year olds acting that way would be considered on some type of drug..

[Texas_shutterbug]

A fifteen year old severely autistic person is probably going to be a "child" for life. Having a special needs child myself who can be mistaken for a drug addict or drunk by the cops like that is one of my worse fears.

[Ben Mugged]

I don't like cops in general and would normally take the other side if I could see a way to.

You have a problem and need to seek help right away.

[Mr. Mojo]

A three day long outburst of profanity?

Not even Tommy Lasorda can do that.

[smonk]

my only point is that you can hardly blame the cops.

[LiberalBassTurds]

Maybe every squad car should be equipped with another less than lethal weapon...you know, a Liberal. Then when mentally ill people are encountered the Liberal can speak to them in their own language. They can use their outstanding negotiating skills to convincing irrational people to do the right thing.

If they implement this we wouldn't have to read all this cop bashing crap.

LBT
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