Investigation Underway for Taser Used on 15-Year-Old

Detroit police are investigating an incident where a state trooper used a Taser on an unarmed 15-year-old as he fled on an ATV, then crashed and died in Detroit, reports the Detroit Free Press. The trooper, who has been suspended, was said to be trying to stop Damon Grimes for recklessly driving the four-wheeled, all-terrain vehicle. State Police First Lt. Mike Shaw said it appears the trooper used the Taser on the boy from a patrol vehicle with the window rolled down. Shaw said it is a violation of policy for an officer to deploy a Taser from a moving vehicle. The ATV crashed into the rear of a pickup, police said. Damon’s relatives are struggling with grief and questions about his death. “He didn’t deserve what happened to him,” his sister, Dezanique Grimes, 25, said. “He was a good kid. A loving, happy kid.” At a news conference, Detroit Police Chief James Craig announced that the department had opened an investigation into the incident. Craig also said: “Any time there’s a loss of life, and in this case, a 15-year-old, it’s always a tragedy, regardless of circumstances.” Craig noted that the Detroit Police Department has a restrictive policy when it comes to pursuits. He said there “is no benefit” to engaging in high-speed pursuits for minor traffic offenses. At the accident scene, troopers immediately began CPR, but the boy died at a hospital, according to a previous statement from police.