Police Taser 12-year-old Girl

Is excessive force on a 12-year-old ever justifiable by the police? A spokesman for the St. Louis County Police said the officer in question acted appropriately when he tasered 12-year-old Dejamon Baker. The girl was shopping with her mother, Charlene Bratton and other family members at a Victoria's Secret when a police officer ordered Bratton to put her hands behind her back. "I said for what, and next thing you know, he tackled me down on the ground," Bratton told KSDK. The officer approached Bratton for unresolved traffic tickets.

Baker states she stood nearby scared and crying, then the officer pulled out his stun gun and shot her. According to the police report, Baker and another female family member attempted to interfere with the arrest. Both Baker and the other woman were arrested along with Bratton. The 12-year-old was the only one tasered. It is unknown at this time what charges they face.

What prompted the officer to run the tags on Bratton's vehicle? Was he routinely checking all vehicles in the parking lot? The police are trained to control the situation. At what point did he lose control of the scenario? Would simply detaining Bratton in the store while family removed the children avoid the entire sequence of events?

Baker has small wound marks on her chest and stomach. Bratton said the officer should have had enough control to tell her to get back instead of shooting her with his stun gun. The family is going to Internal Affairs with a complaint and asking for an investigation.

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