Wed. Dec 11th, 2024

MS family says officer pointed stun gun at 9-year-old

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SOUTHAVEN, Miss. — A family says a Southaven Police officer pointed a stun gun at their 9-year-old son, apparently mistaking him for a robbery suspect.

The incident allegedly happened Thursday night, and the family says the boy is still traumatized.

“My son was shaking last night,” Shaquita Anderson Wade said. “He was scared, he was ready to move away. He did not want to be here. He did not want to deal with the police and I’ve raised him to respect authority.”

She is still outraged after a celebration of her son Ahmar’s good grades Thursday night turned into a nightmare.

She says Southaven Police swarmed the Civic Center Apartments, reportedly looking for a robbery suspect, when one officer spotted Ahmar.

“All of the sudden we hear the police car getting faster and louder so my son starts going up the stairs,” she said, “And he jumps out of the car, gets out his stun gun, the taser gun, and immediately runs our direction. I’m thinking that he’s going to someone’s apartment.”

The youngster, already close to his apartment door, was petrified.

“(He) pulled out his weapon and ran past my mom and, like, pointed his gun at me,” Ahmar remembers.

Shaquita could not believe what the officer allegedly said when he realized Ahmar was not the suspect.

“He looks directly at me and says, ‘Ma’am, you need to teach your son when he sees the police not to run,’” she said.

She says she did not get the officer’s name or badge number but described him as a Caucasian male.

The officer left but Ahmar says the emotional damage was already done.

“I turned around and started shaking, like not moving, and my mom told me to come over to her and we hugged for a little while,” Ahmar said.

Friday, Ahmar’s mother and stepfather filed a formal complaint with Southaven Police, wanting an apology, answers and accountability.

“I want to understand why was his first action when he saw my child was to immediately grab a weapon as if the child was coming at him. My baby’s back was turned,” Anderson Wade said.

Southaven Police have not responded to a request for comment.

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