FOX 4 NEWS
The Florida Highway Patrol officer who tased a Lee County teen, violated policy. The officer tased a teen after he looked “suspicious” darting through the bushes.
Said Sawyer C. Smith, Rodeman’s attorney, “they’re kids. Kids walk to where they need to go, and kids cut through bushes.”
Florida Highway Patrol policy states "tasers should only be used when there's a sudden attack or active resistance." Rodeman's actions are consiered passive resistance.
NBC2 NEWS
A Lee County teenager who was tased and placed in juvenile detention, won’t be charged.
Said Sayer C. Smith, Rodeman’s attorney, But with the State Attorney’s Office dismissing the charges, it tells this young man that he didn’t do anything wrong”
Rodeman’s attorney, Sawyer Smith, said he will fight to get the charges dropped and will go after Florida Highway Patrol.
“There is no place in a free society for the government to inflict physical abuse on a child”, said Sawyer C. Smith. “We will prosecute a civil case against Florida Highway Patrol until the very end.”
Daniel Garza, the attorney for the girl’s mother, sees things a little differently than the police officers who claim they were doing what was necessary to protect the child.
“She expects them to come and de-escalate the situation. She expects them to talk to her and help figure out how to get her daughter under control,” Garza said. “Not drag her into a car and Baker Act her or call EMS to inject her with something. Not that, for sure not that.”
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