A settlement has been reach with the city of Cincinnati and grocery chain Kroger Company for $240,000 in favor of the family of an 11-year-old girl who was tasered by an off-duty Cincinnati cop moonlighting as supermarket security on August 7.
It all started after Cincinnati police officer Kevin Brown allegedly observed Donesha Gowdy, who is now 12, shoplifting inside of the store.
Brown ordered Gowdy to stop.
Gowdy ignored Brown.
That’s when Brown drew his Taser, firing it into Gowdy’s back, sending Gowdy’s 90-pound body sprawling to the floor.
On October 29, Police Chief Eliot Isaac announced that officer Brown would face additional charges and that he’d already been demoted to the Telephone Crime Reporting Unit as a part of a disciplinary measure.
Chief Isaac said Brown would also receive training in the proper use of force and a seven day suspension, according to Inside Edition.
“We take these matters very seriously and are extremely concerned when force is used by one of our officers on a child of this age,” Chief Isaac said.
The Fraternal Order of Police defended Brown’s actions, claiming he acted within the department’s policy and procedure.
Gowdy had to be taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation after the Taser prongs were removed from her back.
Video footage of the incident sparked criticism not only for the level of force Brown utilized on an 11-year-old girl, but he can also be heard telling Gowdy she’s why there are “no grocery stores in the black community.”
“You know, sweetheart, this is why there’s no grocery stores in the black community,” he says.
Donna Gowdy, Donesha’s mother, says she didn’t agree with how officer Brown handled the situation, but says her daughter learned a tough lesson.
“Now you see what momma says, these policemen aren’t playing,” she explained to her daughter.
“It could have been a gun instead of a Taser.”
Watch video, apparently taken after the incident, above.
