Police in northeast Ohio have placed a school resource officer on unpaid leave for using a Taser to wake up a sleeping student.WEWS-TV reports the incident happened Aug. 30 at Liberty Preparatory School in Smithville. Police say Officer Maryssa Boskoski, 32, was called to a classroom when a sleeping student wouldn’t wake up for a teacher or principal.Smithville Police Chief Howard Funk says Boskoski removed the cartridge from the Taser and “arced” it. Authorities say the sparking sound and noise from the other students woke the sleeping student up.No probes were deployed and the teen wasn’t hurt.Interim Principal Jenna Parnell told the station that the combination of the sparking noise and ensuing commotion in the classroom caused the student to wake up.Parnell said she was stunned by the officer's actions. "I was a little surprised by it. Our interest is in the safety of our students so hearing that go off was a little alarming," Parnell said.Funk will meet with the Smithville solicitor to determine if any charges should be filed. The chief said the officer violated the use of Taser policy and put her job in jeopardy. "It's unfortunate and I'm disappointed that this took place. It's something I would not have expected from any of our officers," Funk said.Boskoski couldn’t be reached for comment.

Police in northeast Ohio have placed a school resource officer on unpaid leave for using a Taser to wake up a sleeping student.

WEWS-TV reports the incident happened Aug. 30 at Liberty Preparatory School in Smithville. Police say Officer Maryssa Boskoski, 32, was called to a classroom when a sleeping student wouldn’t wake up for a teacher or principal.


Smithville Police Chief Howard Funk says Boskoski removed the cartridge from the Taser and “arced” it. Authorities say the sparking sound and noise from the other students woke the sleeping student up.

No probes were deployed and the teen wasn’t hurt.

Interim Principal Jenna Parnell told the station that the combination of the sparking noise and ensuing commotion in the classroom caused the student to wake up.



Parnell said she was stunned by the officer's actions.

"I was a little surprised by it. Our interest is in the safety of our students so hearing that go off was a little alarming," Parnell said.

Funk will meet with the Smithville solicitor to determine if any charges should be filed. The chief said the officer violated the use of Taser policy and put her job in jeopardy.

"It's unfortunate and I'm disappointed that this took place. It's something I would not have expected from any of our officers," Funk said.

Boskoski couldn’t be reached for comment.