Police Officer Defied Order, Tasered Youth

February 18, 2008 - 11:30am

STEVENSVILLE, Md. - The Queen Anne's County Sheriff's Office says a deputy has been reassigned to internal duties while authorities investigate allegations he fired a Taser at a Kent Island High School basketball player after being told twice by a senior officer not to fire.

The stun gun was used on sophomore Brandon Bennett after an altercation with another student that followed a game last Wednesday.

Brandon's father, Julius Bennett, says deputies providing security at the game had already separated the boys when he says Deputy Anthony Lenzi approached Brandon with his Taser drawn.

The father says Sgt. Mathew Kempel twice ordered Lenzi to holster the weapon, but Lenzi fired anyway, hitting the teen in the chest.

The father says Kempel restated in front of witnesses that he had twice told Lenzi not to fire.

The stun gun was used on sophomore Brandon Bennett after an altercation with another student that followed a game last Wednesday.

Brandon's father, Julius Bennett, says deputies providing security at the game had already separated the boys when he says Deputy Anthony Lenzi approached Brandon with his Taser drawn.

The father says Sgt. Mathew Kempel twice ordered Lenzi to holster the weapon, but Lenzi fired anyway, hitting the teen in the chest.

The father says Kempel restated in front of witnesses that he had twice told Lenzi not to fire.

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