Vancouver cops defend tasering teen holding baby

Police say they were afraid teen was accidently smothering her sick child and had no choice but to taser

by Susan Lazaruk; Friday, September 26, 2008 - The Province
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=170cc1e...

Vancouver police are standing behind officers who used a Taser against a 16-year-old mentally ill mother because they feared she would harm her one-month-old baby.

After three hours of trying to persuade the five-foot-one, 110-lb. teen to give up her baby, officers warned her she would be Tasered before touching her arm and upper back with the stun gun, said spokeswoman Const. Jana McGuinness.

The mom was seated at the time and officers were able to retrieve the baby, who has been critically ill since birth, from her lap, she said.

Police didn't identify the mom or what condition the baby was born with.

The mom, Misha Peterson, had told The Province earlier three or four officers held her down on the bed and zapped her twice on the neck until she let go of her baby, a boy named Taige.

Peterson has marks on her neck.

McGuinness said in the "emotionally intense" situation, the mother was seated and her body at times was over the child.

"Officers felt it was critical to intervene because the actions of the mother led them to believe the baby would be smothered," she said.

"Some people may criticize our actions, but there was [a] child's life in the balance here," she said. "The last thing we would have ever wanted to do was get in a tug-and-war situation with the mother.

"The use of the Taser allowed us to bring this to a safe conclusion for the mother and the child," she said.

Police were called Monday afternoon to Misha's 17-year-old boyfriend's apartment by social workers after Misha failed to return to her foster home on Sunday.

Her boyfriend, the baby's father, Scott Michell, isn't allowed to see the child without adult supervision.

McGuinness wouldn't reveal how many officers were involved.

She said the incident would be reviewed internally and with the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

A ministry spokesman said he couldn't discuss the issue because it's under police investigation and he couldn't confirm that social workers were present at the incident.

The baby's great-grandmother, Doreen Duncan, said her grandson, Scott, and Misha, are missing the baby, now in foster care.

She said the couple spent their days with Taige but Scott lives with friends and Misha in foster care.

"They had a stroller and they went everywhere together," she said. "They're used to having the baby all the time and it's like a part of them has been wrenched out."

She said Misha absconded with Taige after Social Services told her there would be a custody hearing and Misha would have to earn her baby back.

"How do you earn your baby back?" said Duncan.

A lawyer has offered to help them but Duncan said she wants to discuss the situation with Misha before pursuing legal action.

© The Vancouver Province 2008