A teen was left battered and bruised after he was reportedly tased and beaten three times by an NYPD officer during George Floyd protest on June 1.
16-year-old Jahmel Leach’s family have shared pictures of the teen’s face after the horrifying incident, saying the young boy had been on the sidelines of a demonstration that became out of control on Fordham Road in the Bronx.
Jahmel was tased in the shoulder, leg, and head and allegedly struck by a police officer before being rushed to a hospital. He was later taken into custody without the knowledge of his family.
His parents only learned of the incident when they got a call from St. Barnabas Hospital, according to The Daily News.
The teen’s cousin, Yamil Miller, told the news outlet: “He [the officer] beat him. He exploited him. And he handed him over to the mother in an exploitative manner.”
Jahmel’s family released a statement alleging the officer told the mother: “I’m sorry he is so tall I thought he was an adult when I took him down.”
According to the police, the teen was allegedly attempting to set fire to trash and had been spotted coming out of a store that was plundered by looters before he was caught and tased.
Jahmel was charged with fifth-degree arson but his family insisted that he was only a standby and wasn’t involved in any of the riots.
“He was shot with a taser three times to the head, leg and shoulder. He is also in danger of losing all his teeth,” his parents said in a statement.
In an interview with The Grio, the teen said he did not participate in the chaos as he is terrified of crowds.
“I was outside during the protest walking home,” he explained. “I was approached by several police officers, who unexpectedly slammed (me) to the ground and tased me to the left temple.
“I don’t remember how I received all the injuries to my face and body. I woke up in a police car being taken to the precinct. I was in a cell coughing up blood.”
The incident is under investigation.
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