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Charges Dropped Against Woman Hit With Police Stun Gun

TALLAHASSEE (AP) — Charges have been dropped against a 61-year-old woman who had a stun gun fired in her back by a Tallahassee police officer.

The September incident gained national attention after a video surfaced showed Viola Young falling face-first onto the ground after the officer fired on her as she walked away from him.

The video prompted Tallahassee police to place Officer Terry Mahan on administrative leave. Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo announced the move during a news conference held in the middle of the night.

State Attorney Willie Meggs said that "common sense dictates" that the incident should have never happened.

According to police, the officers were responding to recent complaints from citizens about drug deals in the neighborhood located just a few blocks west of the governor's mansion. Young approached one of the police cars parked on the narrow street to inquire about the arrest of one of her family members.

In his police report, Mahan said that after he told people to stay back she "responded by yelling, 'I just want to know what is going on.'" Mahan said Young refused to leave and he told her she was under arrest. He said she yanked away from him when he attempted to grab her arm.

Young's grandson was reportedly arrested because he was walking in the middle of a narrow street that does not have sidewalks. Police then arrested Young, her daughter and granddaughter.

Meggs' office said in court filings that even if the arrest of Young's grandson was lawful, "there is little evidence that Young's actions interfered with that arrest." The filing said the actions of the officers "led to an absurd result."

"Four arrests that stem from somebody walking in the roadway is not a scenario that lends itself to a successful prosecution," the filing said.

Prosecutors also dropped charges against Young's three other family members.

Want to see Young being shot with the stun gun?  Click on the video below and go to the 2:30-ish mark.

Warning: The video contains foul language.

093014 Incident by Tallahassee Police on YouTube

(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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