The mayor of Ozark has requested a criminal investigation into an officer's tasing of a 10-year-old girl.
Prosecutor David Gibbons says a letter has been sent to the head of the Arkansas State Police.
"I do not personally think that there was any criminal intent but if we have a state police investigation and the finding can be made public then people can't say we investigated ourselves," Mayor Vernon McDaniel said.
McDaniel officially asked for a criminal investigation into the tasing incident Wednesday. A spokesman for the Arkansas State Police confirms that they have received Prosecutor David Gibbons request and they will take it into consideration.
McDaniel says this has nothing to do with political pressure. He tells 5NEWS he wants residents to feel as though a fair decision has been reached. Because the state police cannot conduct an internal investigation of Ozark Police--a criminal one was the only option.
The uproar is over an incident in which Officer Dustin Bradshaw responded to a call of an unruly child. The 10-year-old was reportedly violent and verbally combative and kicked the officer in the groin at one point. Her mother allegedly gave the officer permission to tase her.
Mayor McDaniel says he and the police chief had a conversation about the controversy.
"He said it'll die down in a day or two. I said this is just beginning."
Mayor McDaniel says his years as a journalist have taught him differently. He's now done interviews with the Associated Press and has been called by at least one television network.
Meanwhile, the officer has been suspended with pay for seven days.
"It is my understanding that he followed written procedure on the use of the taser itself he did not follow department protocol on activating the cam," the mayor told 5NEWS.
Prosecutor David Gibbons says a letter has been sent to the head of the Arkansas State Police.
"I do not personally think that there was any criminal intent but if we have a state police investigation and the finding can be made public then people can't say we investigated ourselves," Mayor Vernon McDaniel said.
McDaniel officially asked for a criminal investigation into the tasing incident Wednesday. A spokesman for the Arkansas State Police confirms that they have received Prosecutor David Gibbons request and they will take it into consideration.
McDaniel says this has nothing to do with political pressure. He tells 5NEWS he wants residents to feel as though a fair decision has been reached. Because the state police cannot conduct an internal investigation of Ozark Police--a criminal one was the only option.
The uproar is over an incident in which Officer Dustin Bradshaw responded to a call of an unruly child. The 10-year-old was reportedly violent and verbally combative and kicked the officer in the groin at one point. Her mother allegedly gave the officer permission to tase her.
Mayor McDaniel says he and the police chief had a conversation about the controversy.
"He said it'll die down in a day or two. I said this is just beginning."
Mayor McDaniel says his years as a journalist have taught him differently. He's now done interviews with the Associated Press and has been called by at least one television network.
Meanwhile, the officer has been suspended with pay for seven days.
"It is my understanding that he followed written procedure on the use of the taser itself he did not follow department protocol on activating the cam," the mayor told 5NEWS.
