A school police officer used a Taser on a Newnan High School student Monday after the student tried to grab the officer’s gun during a classroom incident, officials said.
The situation began about 9:40 a.m. when school officials called in a resource officer to assist with a disorderly student, Newnan police Deputy Chief Mark Cooper said in a statement. (Coweta County school resource officers are also Newnan police officers.)
“The student had attempted to skip school, became disruptive in a classroom and ignored staffs’ attempts to calm him down,” according to the statement.
The student began cursing at the officer, and he refused to comply when officers tried to handcuff him, police said.
The student “became combative,” attempted to grab the officer’s gun, and tried to run, according to the statement. Officers then used a Taser.
“The probes struck the student in the back, causing him to fall to the ground,” according to the statement. Officers handcuffed him.
No other students were nearby when the Taser was used, said police, who are conducting an internal investigation.
The student had not returned to class as of Wednesday morning, Coweta County schools spokesman Dean Jackson said. No charges have been filed.
Newnan Principal Chase Puckett sent a letter to parents Monday about the incident.
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