A teenager was tasered and arrested shortly after the homecoming parade at Downers Grove South High School.
According to Downers Grove police, Geovani Liberato, 18, 2405 Spring St., Woodridge, was spotted by one of the school’s deans throwing a bandana into a school garbage can at about 3:30 p.m. Friday. Thinking this was suspicious, the dean retrieved the bandana and noticed it appeared to contain marijuana, said Deputy Police Chief Jim Black. He called one of the school resource officers, and the two of them confronted Liberato.
| 1 Maximum years in the Illinois Department of Corrections that someone can be sentenced to for possession of marijuana or resisting a peace officer if convicted. |
The resource officer called for assistance from police road patrols. Another officer arrived and saw Liberato take off his watch and shirt and assume a fighting stance facing the school officer and the dean, Black said.
“The officer tried to calm him down several times and informed him he was under arrest,” Black said. “When he touched his arm he broke free and lunged at the officers.”
Liberato was brought to the ground but continued to refuse to put his hands behind his back, struggling with the officers, according to Black. One of the officers backed up and informed Liberato that he would use his taser if the student did not comply. When Liberato continued to refuse, the officer struck him in the arm with his taser, Black said.
“The officers followed our departmental policy on the use of the taser,” Black said. “It was used to prevent any further injury to the officers or Liberato. Obviously anytime that the officer is rolling around with a subject there’s the possibility that the gun could get grabbed.”
After he was tasered, Liberato was taken into custody without further incident, Black said. The teen was charged with possession of marijuana and resisting a peace officer. He refused medical treatment and was released on bond, police added.


