MARTINSVILLE, IN—
UPDATE: Did Captain William Jennings and Officer Darren Johnson go too far when they tried to gain control of a 10 year-old boy who they say was out of control?"Two grown men should have been able to do something with him without doing what they done."
During a news conference Thursday morning, the Martinsville Police Chief said Officer Jennings slapped the child on his mouth and then Officer Johnson pulled out his stun gun that looks like this and shocked the boy once on his arm. Police said the shock lasted between one and two seconds.
"It does hurt but once it's turned off within a couple of seconds the person is recovered back to normal," said Chief Jon Davis.
The child's guardian owns Tender Teddies Daycare and didn't want to make a comment. Officers said they responded to this daycare about two months ago because the same child was throwing a fit. At that time, it didn't take a stun gun to subdue the child, and that has many asking the question: why now?
"We need to look at it a lot closer because it's really not made for 10 year-olds," replied Chief Davis.
The department's policy is now in question. The chief said officers are supposed to consider what's happening, the person's size compared to the size of the officer and whether or not there's a threat, or if the person has a weapon.
In this case at the daycare, the child weighs about 94 lbs. Internal investigators will determine if the two officers followed the policy, however, according to police we already know there is currently nothing about age in the policy.
Capt. William Jennings has been on the force 36 years. Officer Johnson has been with MPD for three years.
The Morgan Co. Sheriff's Office has taken over the investigation. Both officers were put on administrative paid leave for the time being.
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The Morgan County Sheriff's Department and Martinsville police are investigating whether police used unnecessary force when they used a stun gun on a 10-year old boy at a daycare.
An officer is also accused of slapping the child.
Police say the officers responded to a report of a juvenile who was out of control at Tender Teddies daycare in Martinsville. According to Assistant Police Chief Dan Riffel, the officers said the boy appeared out of control, kicking and striking out.
Riffel also said this isn't the first time they've responded to the daycare because the boy was out of control and trying to hurt others.
The two officers involved have been suspended with pay and placed on administrative leave until the investigation is finished.
The names of the officers and the boy have not been released.
Martinsville Police will hold a news conference tomorrow morning at 9:00 to address the situation. We'll bring it to you live on Fox59 Morning News.
