Police use stun gun on 6-year-old

CNN.com ^ | November 12, 2004 | Associated Press

[MississippiMasterpiece]

MIAMI, Florida (AP) -- Police used a stun gun on a 6-year-old boy in his principal's office because he was wielding a piece of glass and threatening to hurt himself, officials said Thursday.

The boy, who was not identified, was shocked with 50,000 volts on October 20 at Kelsey Pharr Elementary School.

Principal Maria Mason called 911 after the child broke a picture frame in her office and waved a piece of glass, holding a security guard back.

When two Miami-Dade County police officers and a school officer arrived, the boy had already cut himself under his eye and on his hand.

The officers talked to the boy without success. When the boy cut his own leg, one officer shocked him with a Taser and another grabbed him to prevent him from falling, police said.

He was treated and taken to a hospital, where he was committed for psychiatric evaluation.

"By using the Taser, we were able to stop the situation, stop him from hurting himself," police spokesman Juan DelCastillo told The Miami Herald.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

This poor child is seriously disturbed. One must wonder about his family enviroment.

[A Cyrenian]

Spare the Taser, spoil the child.

[Michael Goldsberry]

50,000 volts seems like too much. One would think that they could adjust the setting.

Beeber to stune?

[ClintonBeGone]

lol

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Oh... wait. Wait. You said TAZER, right...?

[newzjunkey]

He's SIX! How ridiculous is it that he couldn't be disarmed by a grown security guard.

Taser? Overkill much?

I hope this kid gets the psychological and social services help it seems he desparately needs.

[TheCrusader]

Praise God for modern technology. What would the police have done with this six year old boy before the advent of tasers?

[helen crump]

How in the world does a child get so angry and violent by the time he is 6!?

[newzjunkey]

LOL! Good one!

[CindyDawg]

Now I suppose all picture frames will have to be banned from schools.

[mollynme]

Maybe a little shock treatment will do him some good?

[Archangelsk]

I have a five year old. I am 3.9 times his weight. I have very highly developed reflexes. I am still, for my age, very quick and very coordinated. I don't think I need a Taser to subdue a child of this stature under any circumstances (provided the child is not wielding a gun).

We have become a nation of wussies.

[OXENinFLA]

HE'S ONLY 6, TAKE THE GLASS AWAY FROM HIM!!!

[556x45]

Any word on whether they shot his dog?

[anniegetyourgun]

Anger and violence usually begets anger and violence.

[floydibanezer]

Nice pic, but why are phasers coming out of the photon torpedo tube?

[newzjunkey]

How in the world does a child get so angry and violent by the time he is 6!?

First you have an egg donor who does drugs (i.e. meth, coke, pot) during pregnancy. Then you have the child exposed to drugs while a toddler. And then he's given back to the egg donor, who's working as a hooker. And how about some verbal, physical and sexual abuse by males and females?

Sounds hard to believe, right? Well it's entirely based on an actual 6 yr old's (and he's white!) case history.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

but why are phasers coming out of the photon torpedo tube?

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell." :)

[asgardshill]

How ridiculous is it that he couldn't be disarmed by a grown security guard.

He was. Even a 6 year old can slice an attempted rescuer to ribbons while waving a razor-sharp piece of glass around.

I can't fault the guard on this one.