Suicidal 10-year-old girl tased by police

[Depressed Cat]

A suicidal 10-year-old girl wielding a handsaw was electrically stunned with a Taser by a police officer in El Paso, Texas.

The incident started when police responded to an emergency call about 9:30 p.m. regarding a suicidal girl armed with a knife at a home in the 4600 block of Atlas Avenue.

The girl's parents were unable to restrain her and she ran from the home before officers arrived, according to a police news statement. Patrol officers, along with members of the police Crisis Intervention Team, responded to the scene.

A police officer found the girl nearby in the neighborhood, which is mostly made up of mobile home parks east of the intersection of Dyer Street and the Patriot Freeway.

The officer chased the girl until she turned around while holding a handsaw, police said.

"While pointing the handsaw at the officer, she advanced on him, yelling at the officer to shoot her," police stated.

The officer used the Taser to stun the girl, who was then taken into custody, police said. She was taken to a hospital on a mental health emergency detention order.

The officer was alone at the moment of the confrontation and there were concerns that the girl would harm herself or run into traffic in an area of Dyer Street, Carrillo added.

Child suicide 'concerning and alarming'

It is troubling to think that a child as young as 10 years old is contemplating suicide.

There appears to be an increase in children's mental health struggles in El Paso, though the factors are many, including the COVID-19 pandemic, said Dr. Marcelo Rodriguez-Chevres, a psychiatrist and chief medical officer for Emergence Health Network.

"It is concerning and alarming as parents and community members as we see it happening around us," Rodriguez-Chevres said.

Suicidal ideations are more common among teenagers but are experienced by some younger children, Rodriguez-Chevres said.

"I've seen kids as young as 4 and 5 talk about dying and whether it would be better to be dead. A lot are victims of neglect and abuse and experienced tragic things while growing up," he said.

Youth mental health crisis: El Paso police use Taser to stop suicidal 10-year-old girl

A 10-year-old girl yelled at an El Paso police officer to shoot her. It's part of a national crisis in children's mental health.

www.elpasotimes.com

 

[cyanlove]

I've heard a saying that children don't have problems, the problems come from their environment.

 

[BigG91]

I've heard a saying that children don't have problems, the problems come from their environment.

True ...Well i think brain rewires itself or is reactive to the environment when it develops i feel till the age of 25 i think
i read about this few years ago..many mental illnesses are a result of this or this is a factor

 

[HenryHobkins]

if i ever get into a confrontation like this, I dont plan on being taken in alive

 

[Musketeer]

I'd probably turn it into a murder suicide tbh. either they can kill me or i can take one of them with me they always have a partner. I'd rather not, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

 

[Crazy4u]

it is very sad to see a 10 years old girl in this situation. I wonder what happened to her and what caused her to do this

 

[Worndown]

People break for many reasons. I am sure there is a terrible story behind this. Tasing is better than those bean bags they shoot at people to knock them down. She would be too small for that.

 

[LittleJem]

I met a mother of a nine-year-old who said that nine and ten-year-olds are the highest risk for suicidal thoughts nowadays. London. UK. She was a loving mother and literally has decided to relocate her daughter to school in Dubai to keep her safe.

 

[Shu]

A lot of them are victims of bullying also.