47 SHARES Share Tweet

Public outrage has started after a Cincinnati police officer used a Taser to stun an 11-year-old girl suspected of stealing from a Kroger grocery store on Monday, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot Isaac has opened an investigation, Acting City Manager Patrick Duhaney told City Council members.

Vice Mayor Christopher Smitherman, chairman of council’s Law and Public Safety Committee told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “It’s hard to understand why an 11-year-old would be tased. I expect answers in 24 hours.”

An off-duty officer working security at the Kroger was investigating several girls accused of stealing from the local grocery store, police said. The officer then approached the 11-year-old but she ignored the officer and continued to walk away, according to police. The officer struck the girl in the back with the Taser.

The 11-year-old girl was arrested on charges of theft and obstructing official business. She was then taken to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center for evaluation and released to a parent’s custody.

“We are extremely concerned when force is used by one of our officers on a child of this age,” Isaac said. “As a result, we will be taking a very thorough review of our policies as it relates to using force on juveniles as well as the propriety of the officer’s actions.”

The officer in question name has not been released has been placed on restricted duty pending the outcome of the investigation.

The Cincinnati police department’s Taser policy states that Tasers are “for self-defense or to temporarily immobilize a subject who is actively resisting arrest.”

The department’s policy goes on to say, “Officers should avoid using the Taser on obviously pregnant females and those individuals under the age of 7 or over the age of 70 due to the potential for these individuals to fall when incapacitated by a taser, unless the encounter rises to the level of a deadly force situation.”

The 11-year-old girl is supposed to appear in Hamilton County Juvenile Court. However, a court date is not immediately available.

SEE ALSO: New Study Shows Black People Value Social Media For Magnifying Activism

SEE ALSO: Don Lemon Responds to Trump

SEE ALSO: Opinion: Black media is vital to the future of Black America

SEE ALSO: Baltimore Mayor meets with Magic Johnson, encourages him to invest in Baltimore

Copyright ©2018 The Black Detour All Rights Reserved.