The Brandon Police Service says an officer used a stun gun on a teen to prevent the boy from harming himself.

The officer was responding to a call at about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday about a 14-year-old boy causing a disturbance and damaging property in a residence.

The officer found the boy in a lane, holding a shard of glass "shaped like a knife" to his own throat, according to police.

When the boy refused to respond to verbal commands to drop the glass, the officer used the stun gun, police said.

"We don't use force unless it is necessary or the subject can't be controlled reasonably by less violent means," said police spokesperson Const. Tanis Basaraba.

The teen was taken to hospital for observation.

He is scheduled to appear in court on charges of mischief and possessing a dangerous weapon.