It appears to be the answer to most difficult situations in which THINKING out a better solution might have taken someone smart with communication skills. This incident was terrible. So the kid had a shard of glass and was trying to cut himself?

Calling the family would have been the first protocol, especially if the boy was confined....maybe allowing to him to play his Game Boy until the mother or counsellor came in. To have grown cops use the taser instead of their brain or strong arms; shows me that people in general, when in fearful situations, prefer to use force first.

Next thing you know, they'll be putting this kid on a box and attaching wires to his wrists and ankles............