FARGO (KFGO) – Police have confirmed that an internal investigation is underway after a man was hit with a pepper ball during an arrest earlier this month.
The man’s mother says he’s lost sight in an eye as a result. Lt. Chris Helmick, while not speaking specifically about the case, says non-lethal pepper balls have only been used for about two years in Fargo.
“It’s a very important tool for us to have on the street, it gives, again, our officers another option to use and so they don’t always have to resort to a firearm or to go hands on and use physical force on someone,” Helmick said.
Tyler Patel was arrested for preventing arrest and terrorizing in the 1300 blk. of Gateway Drive Oct. 2. Police say officers responded to a medical assistance call when they encountered Patel.
His mother is critical of the department. She contends that officers handled the arrest poorly and there was no reason for the level of response. She says police knew that her son is bipolar and has severe mood swings.