On Monday, a Cincinnati police officer working an off-duty security shift at a Kroger grocery store deployed a TASER on an 11-year-old girl who was reportedly suspected of shoplifting.
According to reports, Officer Kevin Brown was investigating a group of juvenile girls suspected of stealing from the store. Brown reportedly approached one of the girls, but she ignored his commands to stop and kept walking out of the store. Brown fired his TASER, striking her in the back.
The girl was taken to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and was initially charged with theft and obstructing official business.
According to WHIO-TV, Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley subsequently asked Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters to drop charges against the girl.
"I'm happy to report that he did and I thank for him doing so," Mayor Cranley said in a statement.
Officer Brown is reportedly not allowed to work the detail or work the street until an investigation is completed.