The FBI has closed an investigation into Tullytown police in connection with a 14-year-old boy who was Tasered after he ran from officers following his arrest for shoplifting from the Levittown Walmart last fall.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
Tullytown Chief of Police Daniel Doyle confirmed the news with LevittownNow.com late Thursday morning.
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“The FBI after consultation with the U S Attorney’s Office closed its investigation into the use of a Taser by a Tullytown Police Officer on a retail theft suspect who was fleeing from custody,” Doyle said in a prepared statement posted on Facebook.
A request for comment sent to the FBI was unanswered as of press time.
The results of the FBI investigation follow the Bucks County District Attorney’s investigation in December. District Attorney David Heckler said at the time that a thorough investigation showed the Tullytown officers did nothing wrong in Tasering the handcuffed teen, who was running into a lane of travel.
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“It’s sort of a no-brainer for me,” Heckler said in December as to why the officer tasered the teen. “There were officers at risk.”
The controversy over the incident started in November when the 14-year-old’s mother, Marissa Sargeant, posted graphic photos of her son with a number of visible injuries to his face on social media. She alleged Tullytown police assaulted her son as he was being pursued on Route 13 after he was arrested with his 19-year-old uncle on retail theft charges.
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The pictures and statements from Sargeant caused a firestorm of media attention and spawned a scantily-attended rally against Tullytown police. A counter rally was held about a week later.
Two private investigators representing the teen made several claims to have evidence to counter the district attorney’s investigation. The two failed to produce evidence when asked by reporters on several occasions.
Sargeant and the 14-year-old met at Philadelphia law offices of Fortunato Perri Jr. shortly after the incident. Perri told LevittownNow.com in a one-on-one interview in November that all accounts from the boy indicated borough police used “excessive force.” The attorney could not be reached via his cell phone for comment on Thursday.
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The teen ended up making a deal with prosecutors on the shoplifting charge and the charge will be cleared from his record if he stays out of trouble.
In a twist of irony, Sargeant was arrested recently and is facing trial on charges she stole from the same Walmart.
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“On behalf of the Borough of Tullytown Police Department, I wish to thank the public for their patience and understanding while both the FBI and Bucks County District Attorney’s Offices conducted their extensive and thorough reviews of the actions of my Officers. This decision along with the results of the investigation by the Bucks County District Attorney shows that the Officers in question conducted themselves professionally and within the confines of law,” Doyle said.
Related:
- DA Clears Tullytown Cops in Tasered Teen Incident
- DA to Announce Information on Tullytown Tasering Investigation
- Support Rally for Tullytown Police Draws Large Crowd
- Rally Draws Few in Tullytown; Organizers Speak About Investigation into Tasering
- Protest Organizer: ‘Injustice Doesn’t Take a Break for Anything, Weather Included
- 1 Rally Canceled, DA Warns About Threats as Ugly Weather Approaches
- EXCLUSIVE: Tasered Teen Wasn’t Locked in Police Car, DA Says; Rally Organizers Meet with Officials
- Tasered Teen, Mother Meet with Civil Rights Attorney
- Controversy Brewing Over Arrest, Tasering of 14-Year-Old-Boy
