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‘State of emergency’ amid Pa. use of force probe

Three officers were suspended in the fallout over the alleged use of an ECD

Associated Press

COLWYN, Pa. — The mayor of a suburban Philadelphia borough has declared a state of emergency after three officers were suspended in the fallout over the alleged use of a stun gun on a handcuffed teenage suspect.

Colwyn Mayor Daniel Rutland says he decided late Wednesday to declare a state of emergency because there aren’t enough officers to patrol the streets. With the three suspensions, the borough is down to seven officers.

The 17-year-old boy told reporters that an officer zapped him once with the stun gun while he was handcuffed inside the department’s jail cell on April 24.

Investigators believe the teen was in custody after refusing to answer a police officer’s questions about a fight he witnessed.

The Delaware County district attorney is investigating.

Copyright 2012 Associated Press