Urbandale Police: Autistic Teen Tased by Police Involved in Other Fights

An autistic teenager who was shocked with a Taser after he allegedly assaulted a police officer has been involved with fights with other teens in the past year, according to Urbandale police records.

The 15-year-old Urbandale boy is in juvenile detention facing theft and assault charges after an altercation over a wallet at the Wynnsong Theater in Johnston escalated May 4.

(Patch.com typically does not identify juveniles involved in criminal matters.) 

Urbandale Police Chief Ross McCarty, upon a request from Urbandale Patch, found four police reports in the past year that have involved the teenager. He summarized the reports:

• March 2011: Police were called after the teenager and another boy were involved in a fight coming home from Urbandale Middle School. Police could not determine who was the aggressor and the case was referred to juvenile court for review.
• May 2011: The boy was involved in a fight with another middle school boy. In this case, the boy was arrested on an assault charges, said McCarty, although the police officer's report does not indicate that the other boy was injured. "They were rolling around," the chief said.
• Sept. 27, 2011: police are called to the family's home. This trip is classified as a request to help someone with a mental illness, said McCarty."The parents needed assistance with him acting out and being combative," he said. Police had to physically separate and control the boy from another family member. 
• Sept. 28, 2011: The next night, police are called back to the house. "The son was starting to act out," said McCarty, who noted that the boy had calmed down by the time police arrived. "Once we got there, peace was restored and we didn't have to intervene," he said.

In the recent incident this month, the boy allegedly was involved in a fight with another boy over allegations that he stole the boy's wallet. 

According to video and audiotapes that police showed reporters, but have not released to the family or the public, the teen and Officer Cale McClain almost immediately became involved in a scuffle. The boy, who weighs 200 pounds, is bigger than the officer.

McClain, hit the emergency button on his radio and other officers could hear him tell the boy "Stop resisting, stop fighting." McClain's hand was broken in two places during the incident.

The boy is being held at Meyer Hall and his mother told the Des Moines Register that he is on a suicide watch and will not be transferred to a hospital.

You can follow the progression of this story and join the conversation about it on Patch: 

UPDATE: Urbandale Man Facing Charges After Police Use Taser on Autistic Son in Johnston Incident

Video, Audio Recordings Show Struggle Between Police Officer, Autistic Teenager

Autistic Teen Is on Suicide Watch After Arrest, Says Mom