Residents of a #Cincinnati community are questioning why police found it necessary to use a Taser on an 11-year-old girl who was allegedly stealing food from a #Kroger grocery store. Community members argued that a girl that young stealing food is likely hungry and that use of force was uncalled for.
But get this #Roommates, after the incident came to light, so did the #CincinnatiPoliceDepartment’s policies and procedures, which revealed that officers are allowed to use Tasers on children as young as 7! The procedure also states that when a person simply flees from an officer, “absent additional justification,” that does not warrant the use of the Taser, according to NBC News.
“We are extremely concerned when force is used by one of our officers on a child of this age. As a result we will be taking a very thorough review of our policies as it relates to using force on juveniles as well as the propriety of the officers’ actions,” said Cincinnati Police Chief #EliotKIsaac said in the statement.
The girl was charged with theft and obstructing official business. She was taken to a local children’s hospital after the incident and eventually released to one of her parents, police said. The officer who Tasered the girl has been placed on restricted duty.
How young is too young to be Tased, #Roommates? Let us know in the comments.
TSR STAFF: Christina C! @cdelafresh
