A 17-year-old Missouri teen was put in a medically-induced coma for brain injuries sustained after a struggle with a police officer. Witnesses say that the teen, Bryce Masters, hit his head on the pavement after he was handcuffed and dropped on the ground by Officer Tim Runnels.
Officers from the Independence Police Department pulled over Masters, whose father is an officer with the Kansas City Police Department, on Sunday afternoon, regarding an outstanding traffic warrant for the owner of the vehicle. Police claim the boy refused to comply with the officer’s request to lower his window, while friends of the boy say the window switch was malfunctioning.
“The driver refused to exit the vehicle,” Sgt. Darrell Schmidli said reportedly. “A struggle ensued, a Taser was deployed by the officer. The driver was finally removed out of the car. A struggle ensued once he was moved out of the car.”
Witnesses say Runnels used excessive force to get Masters out of the car and placed his foot on the teen, “as if he were putting out a cigarette,” while the teen lay on the ground, helpless.
The Kansas City division of the FBI is currently investigating the Independence Police Department, but remains firm that that the authorities were within legal grounds. Runnels was placed on administrative leave.
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