Tasered Middletown teen tells his story

Middletown, Conn. (WTNH) - The teenager Tased at Middletown High School by police spoke exclusively to News 8. The incident was sparked by the teen's alleged theft of food from the cafeteria.

Police wrapped up a news conference just before 5 p.m. Wednesday in the response to the Tasering incident and say it was justified.

Police told News 8 they want to be clear the 17-year-old student was not Tased for allegedly stealing a burger pattie from the lunch line. They say he was tased for resisting arrest when they were trying to subdue him.

The way police described it, the teen was “combative, pushing, shoving, wrestling on the ground” after an officer grabbed him. That’s why they applied a “dry Tase,” which means they didn’t shoot the boy with a prong. They put the Taser against him and started zapping him while he was on the ground to subdue him.

News 8’s Bob Wilson talked with the student, 17-year-old Zahrod Jackson, about his version of the story. Jackson pulled up his shirt and showed where he was Tased.

Bob Wilson: “Were you resisting arrest at all? What happened?”
Zahrod Jackson explained:

“I wasn’t resisting. It was just like, it all over a beef pattie that I had put back and then they felt I had to go to the security room. And I was ‘I don’t need to go.’ And then the cop grabbed me. Then I said, ‘You don’t need to touch me. I’m old enough to walk by myself.’ And he just slammed me, then they Tasered me.”

Two school officers were present. They were both veteran police officers. One was in training to become a school resource officer, but they say the same rules were applied the same rules on the street as they do in school.

School resource officers are fully armed with guns and a Taser. They explained there’s a lot that could go wrong when a person resists and starts struggling, and for their own safety they have to Tase the person to get them under control.

News 8 asked Zahrod Jackson if he was injured. He says he was not, but he did say that he was suspended for ten days.