Video shows Glendale police use stun gun on teen during Great Skate fights
Mar 21, 2019, 4:25 AM | Updated: 7:31 am
PHOENIX — Glendale Police said Wednesday that they used pepper spray and a stun gun while defusing multiple fights at an overnight event for teenagers at Great Skate on Saturday.
Police said two off-duty officers were hired to work the event near Peoria and 43rd avenues.
Around 9 p.m., police said, the rink reached its capacity of 500 and about 200 people were in line outside.
According to police, fights began to break out among the teenagers and backup officers were called.
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Reports came in about teenagers vandalizing nearby businesses and cars and throwing rocks, and police began using pepper spray to break up fights.
At one point, someone inside the rink opened a fire escape door and allowed a group of people to enter, police said.
An officer located a 16-year-old who was not wearing a wristband and escorted him out of the building, where he ripped down a sign and knocked over a display, police said.
Police said the teenager ran at one of the officer’s backs when he was turned around, leading the other officer to use pepper spray to stop him.
The other officer turned around and used his stun gun on the boy, according to police, then handcuffed him and gave him medical treatment.
Police said the boy was taken to a hospital and a charge of aggravated assault on a police officer was submitted to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
Police said while the two officers were dealing with the 16-year-old, more fights broke out and officers continued to use pepper spray to break them up.
Redacted surveillance video released by Glendale police Wednesday shows fights happening inside the arena as well as the altercation between the two officers and the 16-year-old.
The event was eventually cancelled, and all attendees were asked to be picked up by their parents.
Police said calls continued to come in reporting teenagers damaging and fighting at nearby businesses.
According to police, multiple police cars were damaged when teenagers jumped on and kicked them in the parking lot.
Police said Monday that they had received no complaints about the officers’ conduct, but activist Rev. Jarrett Maupin said Wednesday that parents and children were planning to protest the officers’ use of force that evening.
Police said Wednesday that they were on the scene “to ensure that the community has a safe and compliant place to express their point of view.”
