How is this not excessive force? The kid obviously wasn’t going to get away and there’s no reason to think he couldn’t be restrained using normal means. Oh well:

The chase ended with the 17-year-old — identified as Boyertown High School senior Steve Consalvi by The Philadelphia Inquirer — being Tasered by the police officer, an action that has drawn significant media attention today…

Lt. Frank Vanore, a Philadelphia police spokesman, said this morning that Commissioner Charles Ramsey reviewed the tape of the incident and believes the officer — who has not been identified — acted within the department’s guidelines, which allow officers to use Tasers to arrest fleeing suspects…

But the effects of the Taser apparently didn’t last for long, said Bowers, who saw Consalvi escorted right past him by members of security.

“Once he got to his feet, they brought him right down the corridor,” Bowers said. “He was smiling and laughing. I guess it was his minute of glory.”

By “fleeing suspects,” I assume the PD means suspects who’d otherwise escape custody if not for the use of the taser. Which, er, clearly isn’t the case here. No matter: Not only aren’t the kids parents demanding action against the cop, they’ve apologized profusely to the Phillies for the incident. Exit question: Second look at tasers?