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Peel Region police reviewing how force interacts with people with autism
November 24, 2022 By The Canadian Press
Nov. 24, 2022, Mississauga, Ont. – Peel Regional Police say they are reviewing how they engage with people with autism after officers used a stun gun on a non-verbal autistic teen earlier this month.
The force has said police used a stun gun on 19-year-old Abdullah Darwich on Nov. 4 after responding to a report about a “suspicious person” allegedly trying to enter a vehicle and a house while undressed.
The teen’s father has said his son left his Mississauga, Ont., house in shorts and had to be treated in hospital for injuries, including cuts on his face, after his interaction with police.
Peel police say they recognize the “severe impact” the interaction had on Darwich, his family and the community, and the force is reviewing the “totality of the circumstances.”
The force says it is evaluating how it identifies and constructively engages with people with autism.
The teen’s father, Majd Darwich, says it was vey clear his son was having a mental health issue when the police arrived and used a stun gun on him.
Darwich says people like his son should have the right to live peacefully in the society, and he is considering legal action against police.
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