Autistic Teen Is on Suicide Watch After Arrest, Says Mom

The family of an autistic teenager who was Tased by police on May 4 are ready for his return home from a juvenile detention center.

A family member on Friday morning said she was waiting for a call from the center on when the teen could be released.

On May 4, a Polk County Sheriff's deputy used a stun gun on the 15-year-old Urbandale boy after an altercation with a Johnston police officer, which resulted in the officer's broken hand, according to police.

On Thursday, the boy's mother told The Des Moines Register that her son was on suicide watch at the detention center, and authorities there and a court officer would not send him to Iowa Lutheran Hospital.

The teen will remain at the detention center until an in-home monitoring program opening is available, the Register reported.

The teen's mother said the boy had attended a showing of "The Avengers" with friends the night of May 4 when a fight with a teen from Dallas Center over a stolen wallet began shortly before 10 p.m.

Managers at the theater called police to the scene. When officer Cale McClain arrived, theater managers told him the boy was "outrageous and irate."

Shortly after McClain approached the boy, the scuffle began.

Several witnesses, the boy and officer reported the teen attacked the officer.
Within minutes, McClain's right hand was broken in two places.

The altercation lasted nearly 10 minutes, , with three three more officers arriving to assist.

Eventually, a Polk County Sheriff's deputy used a Taser on the teen to lessen the threat of injury to the teen, officers and patrons at the packed movie theater.

The teen's mother told the Register when she arrived at the scene she ran to her son who was rocking back and forth on the curb.

The mother told Patch on Thursday that she had been denied access to view the police dash camera, cell phone video and reports on the incident.

Pilmer was charged with assault with intent of injury on a peace officer, disorderly conduct, fifth-degree theft, assault and interference with official acts.