Sixth Grader Tasered At Middle School

WSBTV.com
Dec. 05, 2006

JONESBORO -- Officials at Jonesboro Middle School say police tasered an 11-year-old student Wednesday as a last resort. The incident immediately prompted an internal police investigation.

Channel 2 was told the incident began after something happened at lunch to spark a verbal argument between two 6th graders. The verbal argument turned physical and a school resource officer with the Jonesboro Police Department says she had to resort to using a taser.

Channel 2 cameras were rolling when police left Jonesboro Middle School with what appeared to be a male student handcuffed in the backseat.

School officials confirm that an 11-year-old, 6th grade male was tasered by a school resource officer. They say the boy was physically assaulting a female 6th grader and refused to listen to verbal commands to stop. As a last resort the officer tasered the boy twice – once to get the students separated and a second time when the boy tried to attack the girl again.

The male student was taken to juvenile detention – the female was treated by emergency personnel and released to her parents.

Opinions are split on whether this kind of force should be used a school.

“I would tell them if my child got out of hand and they couldn’t control him they would have to taser him,” said one parent. “I know what it is and it doesn’t scare me – so long as it’s used properly it’s not serious.”

“No, it is not necessary…school is a safe place, right?” said parent Syeda Nessa. “They don’t need that, they don’t need that in the school.”

Channel 2 tried to speak with Jonesboro Police but they refused to comment pending an on-going internal affairs investigation into the incident.