Marie Ismé said her 18-year-old son, Brandon, is not a threat and said his treatment by Mascouche police is someone with autism’s worst nightmare.
“They decided to Taser him, shoot him with the Taser gun and [the police] he said this was their best option because he was putting himself in danger,” Ismé told reporters Thursday near her home in Terrebonne, a suburb north of Montreal. 
“I told them that, you know, Brandon, he’s never been aggressive with you guys.  He always cooperated with you.”
Her son has been known to run away from the center in the past, something Ismé has long complained about.
The center’s policy with her son when he tries to run away is not to stop or chase him, but to call the police immediately.

He said police were called to the center twice Wednesday, and the second time, an officer decided to stop him from using his Taser. Marie Isme, with her 18-year-old son, Brandon, speaks to reporters Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022. (CTV News) The spikes from the Taser device had to be surgically removed. On Thursday, his mother said he is more withdrawn and sleeping more than usual, and because he can’t communicate verbally, she worries she can’t properly care for him. She said that because her son is not dangerous, she wonders why officers thought the Taser was an appropriate response. “They’re afraid of my son. I think they’re afraid of him. I just think they’re afraid because they always see that he’s tall, but there are other tall kids there,” Ismé said. “He’s vulnerable, Brandon. He didn’t hurt anyone. He didn’t need this. It’s extreme you know?”

TEENAGER BREAKED INTO PEOPLE’S HOMES, POLICE SAYS

Martin St-Pierre, who heads the professional standards division of the Mascouche police, told a media briefing that it was too early to comment on the situation, which he said required further investigation.
“It will have to be looked into. I can’t answer because it’s too early. The case has to be analyzed,” he told a news conference on Thursday.
When asked if it is police policy to use a Taser on a person with autism, the chief said, “It depends on the intervention. Every intervention is really different.”
Martin St-Pierre is the Chief of Professional Standards for the Mascouche Police Service.  (CTV News)
Both times the teenager left the resource center, he allegedly went into nearby homes, according to St-Pierre.  It is unclear whether the same officers were involved in each intervention Wednesday.  He said the police force is familiar with Brandon from previous calls.
“For several months now, we have been in touch with the resource center and in touch with the family as well to find some solutions to the situation,” the officer said.
Ismé said she is speaking out because she doesn’t want the same thing to happen to another person with autism.

BETTER TRAINING?

The teenager’s mother said police officers don’t know how to deal with disabled people and need more training — a sentiment echoed by civil rights activist Fo Niemi.
“There is always the fear that an untrained police officer may not understand the behaviors of autistic children or individuals and may view the behavior as either dangerous or very threatening to themselves and others,” said Niemi, Montreal’s executive director.  -based on the Race Relations Research-Action Center team.
What often plays a role in situations like Brandon’s is the fact that the disorder is invisible, which requires special attention, according to Marla Cable, resource and training center coordinator at Giant Steps, which offers training to first responders.
“Part of the training we’ve done, we’ve been trying to encourage officers to give space, to give time to use some kind of visual or gestural cue if possible. But most of the time, giving space is really beneficial for a lot of autistic people.” , Cable said.
Giant Steps is a community organization that provides training and counseling services, as well as workshops to those working with the autism community.
She developed a training program that guides first responders, teachers and families with information and strategies on how to intervene with someone with autism in an emergency situation.  Montreal police were one of the police agencies to receive the training, which Cable said should be maintained on a regular basis.
“We’re here. We’re ready, willing and able to go and support any group that wants more training and support,” he said.
CTV News has reached out to the center that cares for Brandon for comment.