A Michigan police officer has been suspended for 30 days without pay after firing a stun gun at a man holding his 2-month-old baby, Westland Police announced Thursday.
Police said Ray Brown, 33, was shocked with stun gun several times before being arrested on charges of resisting arrest and neglect of a minor, ABC News reported. Officers arrived at Brown’s suburban Detroit home Aug. 17 after reports of a man who physically assaulted a woman. It turns out the fight was actually over a Crockpot.
“The arrest of Brown was appropriate and was in line with the laws and ordinances of the City of Westland,” Police Chief Jeff Jedrusik said in a statement. “I’ve also determined that due to Brown’s non-compliance, the use of a department issued Taser on him would have also been appropriate.”
“However, I feel that the use of the taser at that time, while he was holding the child, was a questionable decision,” Jedrusik added. “We are all thankful that the child was not injured.”
The officer who fired the stun gun remains unnamed.
Video of Brown’s confrontation with police quickly went viral, as he exchanged words with officers, insisting they were at the wrong house.
“Get the baby outta here! Get the baby outta here!,” one of the officers says as the situation escalates.
“That’s my child. He can be exactly where he’s at,” Brown replies. “Give me my child. Give me my child.”
Moments later, the Taser is deployed and Brown collapses to the ground. The man’s girlfriend, Nicole Skidmore, said the baby would’ve fallen too had she not been there to catch him.
“I think they were way out of line,” Skidmore, 28, said. “They could have handled the situation differently because my son was in his arms. They didn’t care about my son.”
