A Florida Sheriff's deputy used a shock from a Taser gun to subdue an intoxicated 13-year-old San Carlos Park girl who attacked two nurses at Lee Memorial Hospital early Thursday.
The teen later was cleared medically by hospital staff and sent to the Lee County Juvenile Assessment Center on charges ranging from loitering to battery and resisting arrest.
Lee County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Ileana LiMarzi said the deputy used his best judgment when deciding to deploy the weapon on April Rene Burleson, who is accused of kicking and digging her nails into the nurses as well as scratching the deputy and kicking him in the chest.
According to Sheriff's Office records, 13-year-old Burleson had a blood alcohol level of .175 and was under the influence of marijuana and the prescription drug Xanax. The legal blood alcohol limit to be allowed to drive in Florida is 0.08.
Burleson weighs 90 pounds and stands 4 feet, 9 inches tall, according to the Sheriff's Office.
The controversial Taser immobilizes a person by distributing a shock, either through direct contact with the skin or through two barbs attached to wires that can be fired at distances up to 21 feet.
Burleson has been charged with loitering, disorderly public intoxication, battery by a juvenile on health services personnel, battery on an officer and resisting an officer.
