Police continue probe over 12-year-old boy's broken arm

Metro Police is continuing its investigation into allegations that two of its officers broke a 12-year-old boy's arm while detaining him even though the boy's family has yet to file a formal complaint.

"We always investigate any incident involving use of force," said Officer Steve Meriwether, department spokesman. "We want to make sure that nothing inappropriate occurred."

Meriwether said the officers involved in Wednesday morning's incident with Parrish Young Jr. followed protocol by notifying their supervisors afterward, prompting the department's internal affairs bureau to launch its investigation.

The officers, identified by the department only as 19- and 11-year veterans, remain on regular patrol duties as the investigation continues.

Despite their attempts to contact the media and reportedly hire an attorney, Parrish's family as of this morning have yet to submit a complaint about excessive use of force with the department.

Young was cited for resisting arrest and impeding traffic, both misdemeanors, after allegedly running into traffic with another boy to retrieve a can of potato chips another child had thrown into the street near a school bus stop off Mojave Road, near Charleston Boulevard.

A motorist saw the children and pulled to the curb, reportedly telling them to stay out of the street. A uniformed Metro officer in a black and white patrol car stopped behind the woman's vehicle seconds later, along with a white car whose driver reportedly identified himself as an officer.

At least two children waiting for a school bus are believed to have shouted profanities at the officers. The officers allegedly ordered Parrish to come over to them. Parrish's family is alleging the officer slammed the boy against the patrol car and broke his upper arm while trying to immobilize him in making the arrest.

The boy was treated and released that day from University Medical Center.

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