From Fortune:

A Vermont mother alleges excessive force and discrimination against her Black son with disabilities. Body camera footage shows a scuffle as officers tried to retrieve e-cigarettes he stole. They then injected him with ketamine, prompting a lawsuit. Critics question police capacity to handle such incidents, calling for alternative responses for mental health crises.

After failing to hand over stolen e-cigarettes, a 14-year-old boy with disabilities and behavior challenges was forcibly restrained, handcuffed, and sedated by Burlington police. Body camera footage shows officers confronting the boy and his mother over the stolen items, leading to a scuffle. The incident has prompted a lawsuit and raised questions about appropriate police responses to nonviolent mental health crises.

Body camera footage shared by the ACLU of Vermont shows Burlington police using physical force on a 14-year-old boy with disabilities and behavioral issues. A lawsuit filed by the boy’s mother alleges excessive force and discrimination, highlighting the need for appropriate police training to deal with people with disabilities.

The mother of a 14-year-old boy with disabilities has filed a lawsuit against Burlington police, alleging excessive force and racial discrimination. Officers attempted to retrieve stolen e-cigarettes from the boy, leading to a scuffle and eventual sedation with ketamine, sparking debate over the police’s handling of mental health crises and the use of force with minority and disabled individuals.



Read more: Vermont mother who called police on her 14-year-old son claims excessive force