Tasered Penn Hills Student, Grandmother Say Police Used Excessive Force

On Thursday police said they had to use a Taser to subdue a 17-year-old student who, when asked to put his cell phone away, refused and then pushed an officer.

However, on Friday, the student told Channel 11 News that police used excessive force in the incident.

"I was shocked; I was scared," said Shawndell Thomas. "I was protecting myself."

Police said the teen was so out of control that he had to be hit with a Taser in order to be taken into custody. One of the officers suffered a black eye, and another was kicked in the groin.

Thomas' grandmother, Charlene Butler, said he was unnecessarily provoked for only having a cell phone. "He didn't have a weapon," she said.

Thomas faces two counts of aggravated assault and possible drug charges, police said.