Police Use Stun Gun On 12-Year-Old Girl, Then Laugh At Her

Ohio News Network
Sep. 08, 2005

A Cincinnati-area mother says her 12-year-old daughter was humiliated and eventually stunned with a taser gun by Cincinnati Police inside Burton Elementary School Wednesday.

"My daughter Rakehsa has never been arrested and never been in trouble with the law," Cynthia Harris tells ONN affiliate WXIX.

Rakesha Thomas was taken to Children's Hospital with taser injuries and arm and facial bruises.

After the hospital visit the girl was taken to juvenile jail.

Cynthia Harris says Rakesha argued with another student, refused to go to detention, talked back to administrators, and then after 30 minutes of arguing with police got stunned.

"They did it out in the public in the school where other kids came around. She (Rakesha) said they were laughing," said Harris.

According to the 12-year-old's account, once threatened with being stunned she begged the officers to take her to ISS but was told it was too late.

Cincinnati Police say they're investigating whether the use of force was justified.