Stoughton Police De-escalate Situation Where Autistic Juvenile Has Sharp Object

STOUGHTON (WBSM) — Stoughton Police have released body camera footage of when they recently encountered a juvenile girl who was reportedly waving a bladed weapon at cars near a convenience store.

According to Police Chief Donna McNamara, Stoughton Police responded on June 9 at about 6:33 p.m. to a report of a person acting erratically brandishing a three-to-five-inch blade and swiping at cars near a convenience store on Turnpike Street.

McNamara said the caller reported the female appeared to be in her late teens to early 20s, weighing about 200 pounds. Officers arrived and located the girl, who McNamara said was about five-foot-six and matched the description given by the 911 call.

“The officers observed that she was holding a bladed weapon in her hand while sitting on the ground,” McNamara said. “They took immediate steps to ensure her safety and well-being, and the safety of the public and responding officers.”

The Girl Dropped the Weapon But Ran at Officers

Officers told the girl to drop the weapon and lie on her stomach. McNamara said she did drop the weapon, but did not comply with orders to lie on the ground, and instead ran in the direction of additional officers, “including a sergeant who had grabbed a protective shield as a proactive de-escalation tactic.”

“Unsure of her mental state and whether she had any additional weapons that would present a danger to herself or the officers, she was detained following a brief physical encounter to allow officers to assess the situation,” McNamara said.

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The Girl Has an Intellectual Disability

“Initially, officers were unaware of the individual's age or potential cognitive condition. After she was detained, it was recognized that the juvenile had an intellectual disability and was younger than the age provided by dispatch,” McNamara said. “The officers demonstrated significant care and compassion in their interaction. Once they determined she posed no threat to herself or others, they removed her handcuffs. Officers then arranged for a paramedic evaluation and promptly took steps to reunite her with her mother, who was found to be working at a nearby business.”

The weapon turned out to be one half of a broken pair of kitchen shear-style scissors. McNamara said it was determined the juvenile “was not swiping at cars or threatening individuals with the item, contrary to the initial dispatch report.”

Watch the Stoughton Police Body Camera Footage