Schoolboy, 14, wearing uniform Tasered to ground by police as mum screams
A 14-year-old boy has been Tasered by a police officer while wearing his school uniform and wrestled to the ground.
The teen was seen in the footage being put in a headlock, but when he manages to wriggle free and starts to run off, the officer points his Taser at the boy and shoots. The weapon then sends an estimated 50,000 volts through the youngster's body. He falls to the grass and his legs can be seen twitching as he lies on the ground.
In the mobile phone video, recorded in Birmingham, the boy's mum can be heard screaming: "He's 14" and "What the f*** have you done to my son?". The officer is heard telling the youngster not to move as people can be heard pleading "Watch, his asthma. Look he can't breathe, he's a child." But the policeman can be heard telling people to stay back before adding: "I don't care, I don't care."
The clip has since been viewed thousands of times after being obtained and uploaded by the Birmz is Grime blog, with viewers divided about the police's tactics. One person comments: "That's a bit heavy-handed to say the least considering he is only a kid." While another added: "This boy posed no threat at all had no weapon that warrants this behaviour from the police."
The boy is held in a headlock (Birmz Is Grime / SWNS)
The boy lays on the ground (Birmz Is Grime / SWNS)A third said: "A taser is potentially a lethal weapon that can kill. This is clearly a child in school uniform the only point in which it would have been acceptable to taser him was if he pulled a knife or a gun and the copper felt his life was in danger in that scenario this would have been fair game. He was clearly in no danger so has abused his power."
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Another added: "If you can't handle a 14 yr old kid in a school uniform who poses no threat to life and have to taser him while with another police officer, you both probably should not be a Bobby." However, one person added: "Brilliant work by the police. Surrounded by a violent aggressive crowd. Very well handled." And another commented: "There would need to be a legitimate reason for him to have been restrained. Two officers with a group of people who are getting challenging. They have to remove the challenge before they end up on the floor outnumbered."
The boy was Tasered (Birmz Is Grime / SWNS)
His mum can be heard screaming (Birmz Is Grime / SWNS)A statement for West Midlands Police read: "We’re investigating after being called to a neighbour dispute in Kempson Road, Hodge Hill just before 5pm yesterday (16 Oct). Several residents were arguing, there were allegations of physical violence and the two officers were faced with a hostile crowd.
"As they attempted to diffuse the situation, threats of criminal damage were made. One of the officers tried to arrest the suspect, but he resisted and the officer was further attacked by another man. During the scuffle, a 14-year-old boy was Tasered.
"A 37-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy were arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and remain in custody. The teen was also arrested for criminal damage and threats to cause criminal damage. Our Professional Standards Department is reviewing the officers’ body worn video and a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) will be made as is usual protocol in these circumstances."
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