Stun Gun Used to Break Up School Fight

Police were called to a school on Vine Street in Cincinnati in January 2010 to help break up a fight between five students. Officers driving past the school were flagged down by teachers as they passed by. Several more cars were called to the scene to assist. It appears that the fight took place after school hours, but still on school grounds.

While four of the students complied with police directions to cease fighting, the last child, a 12 year old boy of considerable size, 5’ 10” and approximately 200 pounds, continued to struggle with the officers. After the child struck an officer in the ensuing melee, another officer made the decision to employ a stun gun.

The child was subdued and then taken to Children’s Hospital for evaluation after the incident. After being seen to, the boy was placed in custody and taken to a juvenile detention facility. He is being charged with assaulting an officer. The officer was not seriously injured.

A Safer Approach
While it is unfortunate that a 12 year old experienced the effects of a stun gun, there is no question that the weapon was necessary in this altercation. The boy was as large as any of the officers called to the scene and the incident could have quickly escalated.

When it became clear that the child in question was not going to comply with police directions, it became necessary to control him in as safe a manner as possible. Physical altercations with police officers often result in serious injuries to all parties. The stun gun was a better choice for quickly ending the situation.

Fortunately for all involved, the officers of the Cincinnati police force carry stun guns with them when on duty. Had they not had this option they would have had to subdue the boy physically, at considerable danger to the child and themselves.