Training Torturers

by digby

Here you have a 10 year old with obvious emotional problems. So they torture him into submission. Heckuva job:

The Morgan County sheriff’s department will investigate the actions of two Martinsville police officers who used a stun gun and slapped a 10-year-old boy at a day care center.

Capt. William Jennings and Officer Darren Johnson were suspended with pay following the incident at Tender Teddies day care at 5:10 p.m. Tuesday.

Morgan County Sheriff Robert Garner said the Martinsville police asked his office to investigate on Wednesday. Garner assigned Detective Sgt. Brent Worth to lead the probe to determine if any criminal charges should be filed.

“If he finds criminal wrongdoing it will be referred to the county prosecutor’s office,” Garner said.

Martinsville Police Chief Jon Davis told reporters that the two officers could have restrained the 94-pound boy after being called to the home to help control him.

Jennings and Johnson said in reports they filed that the boy was screaming and kicking and was generally “out of control” when they arrive at Tender Teddies.

Jennings said he had been called to the day care within the last week because the boy had been acting unruly.

They said when they arrived the boy was kicking and yelling at his female guardian, who was lying on the porch, trying to get him under control. The boy also allegedly spat on and kicked another adult woman. Johnson said the boy kicked him the left leg.

“I had my department issued X26 Taser out and displayed the arc for the juvenile to see,” Johnson said in his report. “I advised the juvenile that if he didn’t stop then he would be tased.”

Johnson said the boy swore at an adult and Jennings told him to apologize. When the boy shook his head, Jennings “smacked the juvenile in the mouth causing the juvenile to hit the back of his head on the house,” according to Johnson’s report.

The boy allegedly got further enraged and lunged toward the woman again, hitting her. Johnson and Jennings tried to control him and Johnson shot the stun gun at the boy’s left shoulder for one or two seconds, according to Johnson’s report.

The boy calmed down and when the officer asked him if there “were going to be any more problems today he shook his head no,” according to Johnson’s report.

Oh and by the way:

Jennings’ report does not mention the use of the stun gun or the child being slapped.

The 9th circuit rules that you can taser a pregnant woman for refusing to immediately comply with an officers order, so this seems like a no-brainer. the only question is when they’re going to issue them to teachers and day care workers so they can save the cops a trip.

After all, it only hurts for a little while. No biggie.

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