Pepper-Sprayed 9 Year Old

I usually err on the side of officers...I mean if they feel threatened, they need to protect themselves or subdue the person - kid or not.

I watched the report and the officers did not know this child was mentally ill - and where was her mother? I mean, who lets a mentally ill child get off a bus by themselves - especially when the mother admits that her daughter can have these types of episodes.

Not only that, but why is this kid riding a public school bus home with other kids when she thinks it's appropriate to spit on the bus driver and throw rocks at the school bus?

In the absence of parental supervision or more information, I guess the cops did what they felt was necessary to get this girl under control. Sounds like this definitely was not "normal" 9 yr old behavior.

Besides, it was pepper spray, not a shooting or anything permanent. I agree that it sounds extreme to pepper spray a 9 yr old that's already in custody, but from the little information given in the report, it doesn't sound like this was just a kid smartmouthing.

I think what is being missed is that they pepper sprayed her to stop her from hurting herself.
Mentally ill people can literally crack their own skulls banging them on walls or the floor. Because they aren't harming anyone else, they should be allowed to do that?
If the police hadn't intervened, they would be getting heat for allowing her to harm herself.
I'm not going to classify the child as a criminal. Mental health issues or not, she was clearly out of control. It's yet to be determined whether or not the child was on her medication as she was supposed to be and her mother will probably try to sue for millions.
My son has gone through two police cadet programs. He's 16 and voluntarily was pepper sprayed as part of the training. Yes, it stings like hell, but he had no lasting effects from it.

First of all, the police had no information that the girl had mental problems. We need to step back from the "mommy" idea that all she needed was a time out, a hug and a lollipop, and her tantrum would have dissipated.

If we agree that she was incapable of understanding the extent of her own actions, it seems we must agree that she was incapable of understanding the extent of harm she could cause to herself.
My brother in law is schizophrenic. If he goes off his meds he is a huge danger to himself. He's injured his head, beaten himself, he's cut himself with knives. When he's in that state, he feels no pain. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a MedicAlert bracelet that says, "I'm schizophrenic". Even if he did, you're not going to get close enough to him when he's swinging something to be able to see it.

I think it's a misunderstanding to think that pepper spraying is only appropriate when one is a threat to others.

I'm sad this incident even occurred. However, I'm not ready to crucify the law enforcement involved for the use of pepper spray.

Just my opinion.

As a mother of a child with a mental illness (bipolar) if he was ok of control and trying to hurt himself or anyone else I would have NO problem with the police pepper spraying him if that's what it took to pull him out of a rage. And there have been times where I myself have wished I had something like that to protect me! Hes a big child and there have been times where inhave had to sit on him to restraint him. I have had to call 911 on my 5 year old and have him admitted to a hospital 3 times already. It's hard having a bipolar child I can't even imagine what these parents live through! And just in case anyone is wondering YES my son goes to a regular school and rides the bus with all the regular kids!
Added: at 5 ft and 130lbs she's almost as big as me! And like i said when my son is in a manic episode he's like a different person and is way stronger then normal, so all the more reason i think the cops are justified.

I think the police were JUSTIFIED in pepper spraying this girl!

Hello? She sounds like she was totally out if control...

I have absolutely NO problem with this!

*Updated*
I would like to add that I think the charges against her are insane! A felony for spitting at someone? Come on now!? Absurd.

According to the article, they pepper sprayed her because she was banging her head against the cell wall! She was not threatening anyone and should not have been pepper sprayed. Pepper spray is only supposed to be used to subdue a person when the officer's safety is threatened, not because someone is banging their own head on the wall! The fact that she was doing that should have clued them in that she had a mental/psychological issue! Those cops need more training and I hope the family sues the pants of them!!!!!

Until you have dealt with a child who truly has schizophrenia, do not judge. Even at 100 pounds, if they become agitated, they can inflict severe harm to themselves and others without even realizing it.
And yes, children who are that young can be diagnosed with schizophrenia. The mother is living a nightmare not many of us will ever know.
Not very many communities know how to handle a child with such a debilitating mental illness.
And we do not know the circumstances. Maybe the medications are not working, maybe she had a growth spurt and needs adjustment, maybe she needs a stint in the psych ward of the hospital to get under control.
I pray for this family.

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I didn't read it but MAN my husband had to get sprayed (federal law enforcement) and he's the toughest person I know and it was ROUGH. He kept reflashing, its where it feels like you just got sprayed again, and he had to have fans on him for a few hours.. I can't imagine watching a KID go through that! What cop can't grab a 9 year old girl!? I'm pretty sure if I saw a kid freaking out and was going to hurt someone or herself I could find the strength to grab her and hold her down... that sounds insane I can't believe I haven't seen it on the news yet!