Oregon Public Broadcasting

A 16-year-old boy is in serious condition after a police officer used a Taser on him this week during a drug raid in Salem.

An inquiry now underway to see if the officer involved used excessive force in that incident. David Nogueras reports.

On Wednesday morning, the Oregon State Police SWAT team and the DEA raided three homes as part a federal narcotics investigation.

Inside one of those homes, the officers came face-to-face with Steven Avila.

The OSP says the 16-year-old resisted arrest.  That's when Trooper Jeromy Haskenkamp used a Taser on Avila.

Investigators looking into the case will try to determine whether a reasonable police officer have done the same thing in the same circumstances. 

Captain Roger Eaton instructs police officers on use of force at the Oregon Public Safety Academy. He says in raids like this, it's up to the officer to decide what level of force is needed.

Captain Roger Eaton : "When they go into a situation where they don't know what's on the other side of the door it doesn't take much imagination to put yourself in the officers shoes and know the officers don't know, but that's why they carry a variety of tools with them."

The findings from the investigation will go to the Marion County District Attorney's Office.

The DA will determine whether to bring the case to a grand jury.