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Muskogee, Oklahoma police are currently investigating their own for pepper-spraying an 84-year-old woman in her home, while they searching for her son. 

According to Fox 23 News, last week, officers were chasing Geneva Smith’s son when he ran into her house. When they asked him to come out, he refused, which prompted the police kick the door down, storm into the home and tased the suspect. But, when Smith came out to see what was happening in her own home, one of four to six officers asked her to turn around. Body cam footage that was police released this week shows there were only 40 seconds between asking the grandmother to turn around and her being sprayed in the face. 

Smith was later hospitalized, but not before she said she was handcuffed, dragged to the police car and taken to jail, another Fox 23 story reportedSmith told Fox 23 that she never expected for a senior citizen to be treated so poorly by those who are supposed to protect and serve the community.

“Not with an old lady, old as I am and they come in there and do me like that, pepper spray,” Smith told reporter Eddie Randle.

News One 6 reported that her family is demanding an apology and they are currently considering seeking legal action against the police department.

As of now, Muskogee Police Chief Rex Eskridge stressed that they are still investigating the incident and have two more officers to interview before they can make an official ruling.

“This is a very important issue,” Chief Eskridge said to Fox 23 News. “There is a lot of missing information out there. There is a lot of prejudgment out there and a lot of concern,” he added. 

Concern is right. What ever happened to those de-escalation techniques they teach in the academy? How threatening can an unarmed 84-year-old woman be in front of a group of police officers? How do they know if she even heard them talking to her?

HELLO BEAUTIFUL will monitor this story and provide updates as they become available. 

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