A Texas sheriff’s deputy who tasered an unarmed high school student won’t face criminal charges, even though the student spent 52 days in a coma and has suffered permanent brain damage.
The family of the teenager, Noe Nino de Rivera, said he was unarmed, and didn’t do anything wrong. (RELATED: Police Attack Family Party, Taser Grandma, Use Pepper Spray Around Kids)
The incident occurred last fall inside Cedar Creek High School in Bastrop, Texas. Deputies arrived on scene to break up a fight between two female students. De Rivera was the first to take action, however, and pulled one of the girls away from the other. For some reason, this prompted one of the deputies, Randy McMillan, to taser him. The 17-year-old slumped to the ground, hitting his head on the hard floor.
De Rivera’s injuries were serious. He spent 52 days in a coma, and is now receiving care in a rehabilitation center. He suffers from lasting brain damage.
The officers maintained that their actions were necessary because de Rivera acted “aggressively.”
But surveillance video footage of the incident casts doubt on that assertion. In the video, de Rivera does not appear to act aggressively toward the deputies, according to KVUE.
On Tuesday, a grand jury declined to indict the deputies on assault charges. (RELATED: Deputy Who Choked Student Gets To Retire, Won’t Face Charges)
The family may file a federal civil rights lawsuit, however.