Teen Tasered for riding bike cleared of charges

A Sleepy Hollow teenager Tasered by police for riding his bike on a sidewalk has been cleared of all charges. Duanna Lara, 17, was Tasered in August of 2007. Police said they needed to use the device

News 12 Staff

Sep 23, 2008, 2:54 AM

Updated 5,864 days ago

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A Sleepy Hollow teenager Tasered by police for riding his bike on a sidewalk has been cleared of all charges.
Duanna Lara, 17, was Tasered in August of 2007. Police said they needed to use the device to subdue Lara, before charging him with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and riding a bicycle on the sidewalk.
The teenager and his friends were riding together when police stopped and asked Lara for a registration. Lara refused and ran, police say.
The department is being investigated by the Department of Justice due to allegations of misconduct and brutality. Lara's lawyer claims the teenager is a victim of both.
"There has been a history of mistreating children of color in this community," says attorney Jonathon Rice. "Everything flowed from the illegal conduct of this officer seizing this youngster's bike and then mistreating him because he stood up for his rights."
The Westchester district attorney's office issued a statement saying the case was "dismissed in the interest of justice."
Teen accuses Sleepy Hollow cops of brutality