Dayton police "mistook" a mentally handicapped teenager's speech impediment for "disrespect," so they Tasered, pepper-sprayed and beat him and called for backup from "upward of 20 police officers" after the boy rode his bicycle home to ask his mother for help, the boy's mom says.
Pamela Ford says her "mentally challenged/handicapped" son Jesse Kersey, 17, was riding his bike near his Dayton home when Officer Willie Hooper stopped him and tried to talk to him.
The mom says that "Prior to the incident described below, defendant Hooper knew Jesse and was aware that Jesse was mentally challenged/handicapped and a minor child."
Nonetheless, Ford says, Hooper "apparently took Jesse's speech impediment for disrespect ... and began yelling at Jesse and after Jesse attempted to communicate with him. Jesse, being a minor and mentally challenged/handicapped, turned and rode his bike back to his home in an attempt to ask his mother, Ford, to help him communicate with defendant Cooper," according to the complaint in Montgomery County Court.
Back-up units were requested to Jesse's house, wherein upward of 20 police officers from different jurisdictions were present.
Jesse was handcuffed and hogtied before being placed in the back of a police cruiser. Jesse was charged with assault on a peace officer, resisting arrest, and obstructing official business. However, "Jesse was declared incompetent by the Montgomery County Juvenile Court and the charges against Jesse were dismissed.
Jesse and his mom seek damages from the city and the two lead officers, for false imprisonment, false arrest, malicious prosecution, assault, battery, excessive use of force, infliction of emotional distress and civil conspiracy.
Don't the police love their tasers. I bet they zap each other as practical jokes. Can you imagine 20 cops standing around watching some poor handicapped kid moaning away as the taser and spray him. What a whole lot of fun.
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