Crime & Safety

3-Year-Old Shot with Taser by SDPD Officer

The child was accidentally shot while the officer was aiming for a running parole violator Friday afternoon, according to the SDPD.

A 3-year-old girl suffered a minor puncture wound Friday when she was struck by a barb from an electric stun gun fired by a patrolman running down a fleeing parole violator in the area near the Southland Plaza Shopping Center.

Officers were chasing the man through the shopping center in the 600 block of Saturn Boulevard when one of them discharged the non-lethal compliance device in an attempt to stop him shortly after 3 p.m., according to San Diego police.

One of two barbs attached to electrified wires on the weapon hit the suspect, and the other struck the nearby child, who was with her parents, SDPD public-affairs Lt. Andra Brown said. The girl did not receive an electric shock, the lieutenant said.

Find out what's happening in Imperial Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The parolee-at-large continued trying to escape but was taken into custody moments later. His name was not immediately available.

Medics treated the child at the scene. Her parents displayed an "understanding" attitude about the mishap while interacting with police, Brown said.

Find out what's happening in Imperial Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

– City News Service


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.