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Excessive-Force Complaint Against Police

By Sharon Osorio

July 9, 2010 Updated May 7, 2008 at 7:14 PM EST

A mother in Niagara Falls is accusing police of using excessive force, including a stun gun, on her 13-year-old.
She says her son, Dominic Gualtieri, was accused of shoplifting Sunday. She says her son denied shoplifting to the police, and because he was angered by the accusation, he refused to identify himself to police.
They soon started scuffling ... And police used a taser on the boy.
However, Niagara Falls Police note the teen is 6 feet tall, and one officer suffered a fractured elbow in the incident.
Police say they did not know that he was only 13 years old, but they determine the amount of force they use based on the amount of force used by the suspect.
Police are investigating the claim, and Gualtieri's mother says he'll face a probation hearing on Friday for charges including petty larceny and 2nd degree assault. The case will go to family court.

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