POMPANO BEACH, Fla. – A taser takedown by Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies is causing controversy because the person who was tasered was an 11-year-old boy.
According to an incident report, it all started over video games.
That led to 11-year-old Wesley Hinton getting angry and grabbing a knife before making suicidal threats.
“It still traumatizes me to this day,” Hinton told Local 10 News.
It happened in January, when Broward Sheriff’s deputies were called to a Pompano Beach apartment after receiving a 911 call from Hinton’s 10-year-old sister.
Video of the incident shows Hinton with what police described as a large butcher knife in his hand.
Deputies attempting to get him to drop the knife for at least 30 minutes.
“The juvenile male, according to deputy, continued to reiterate had intentions to harm himself,” said BSO spokesperson Carey Codd. “And at some point the deputy said he ran that large knife over parts of his body, stomach and wrist and chest.”
At one point, Hinton put the knife down and he was then tased by deputies.
According to his stepfather, deputies have been called to home before, saying the boy has “multiple disabilities.”
“Before they would treat him better, they would deescalate the situation,” said Jonathan Friedland, Hinton’s stepfather.
Hinton is not facing any legal charges for the incident.
“Deputies utilized their training and were able to save that juvenile life and also prevent injury to anyone else,” said Codd.
Child protection services is also involved in the case.