EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Tasered Girl's Dad Glad FBI Are Investigating
Nov. 24 2009, Published 2:39 p.m. ET
The father of the 10-year-old girl tasered by a cop in Arkansas has told RadarOnline.com that he’s pleased the FBI are now probing the bizarre case.
Truck driver Anthony Medlock was furious when he learned that the child’s mother had given Officer Dustin Bradshaw permission to taser fifth grader Kiara Medlock.
But Anthony Medlock - who has joint legal custody of Kiara – claims there was no need for such radical action.
He told RadarOnline.com: “When I heard what they had done I wanted to whoop that cop’s ass.
“I blame both the cop and the mother because as far as I’m concerned that’s child abuse plain and simple.
“My daughter does have some emotional issues but she’s not that bad and I haven’t had any big problems with her.
“As far as I’m concerned if the mother can’t control the child then the child should not be with her.
“I’m pleased that the FBI are looking into this case because there needs to be clearer guidelines with the police use of tasers on kids.”
According to Ozark Police Department Officer Bradshaw was dis-patched to the home last Thursday after the mother had made a call claiming she could not control her daughter.
When he arrived he found the girl screaming, kicking and resisting her mother every time she tried to reach-out to her.
The officer then warned Kiera that he was going to arrest her but she continued to lash out at him and then with the mother’s permission he tasered her in the back before she was handcuffed and transported to a nearby youth center.
According to her father he believes their actions were totally excessive in dealing with his child.
He added: “She did not represent a threat to the police officer, her mother or herself, so, why use a taser?
“My daughter was left very shaken-up by the incident and she had what appeared to be burn mark type scars on her back.
“She stayed with me after being released from the shelter but is now back with her mother.
“We split up as a couple six years ago and I lived with them for around five years after Kiara was born.
“I’ve paid my child support and went to court to gain more rights over my child and would now like her to stay with me but at the same time it is important that she’s happy too.
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“I can’t believe this happened to my daughter because she is actually a very good kid most of the time.”
Officer Bradshaw was suspended for one week on full pay after the incident on November 11, 2009.
