Teen hit by police stun gun out of hospital, set to begin rehab
A teenager who was subdued by an Independence police officer’s stun gun has been released from a hospital and is resting at home, his family’s lawyer said Monday.
Bryce Masters, 17, sustained brain damage and significant memory loss but showed enough improvement to be released Sunday afternoon, a week after the traffic stop, Daniel Haus said.
Masters is expected to begin rehabilitation therapy Tuesday, Haus said.
Police said Masters refused to comply with Officer Timothy N. Runnels’ demands to exit his vehicle and Masters braced himself in the car to prevent Runnels from pulling him out after a traffic stop Sept. 14 at East Southside Boulevard and Main Street.
After Masters refused to exit the car, Runnels used his stun gun. The gun’s probes struck the youth in the chest.
The FBI’s Kansas City office is investigating whether Runnels used excessive force.
To reach Glenn E. Rice, call 816-234-4341 or send email to grice@kcstar.com.
This story was originally published September 22, 2014 at 2:24 PM with the headline "Teen hit by police stun gun out of hospital, set to begin rehab."