Dad uses son as human shield to avoid police pepper spray

A man in the US has been accused of using his young son as a human shield to avoid being pepper-sprayed.

Taron Boddie, 35, is said to have argued with school officials after being told he could not take his son to an appointment without identification.

But when police were called to the school in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Boddie - who was with another son - reportedly began screaming and putting his hands on Patrolman Joseph Kearney's chest.

According to the Scranton Times-Tribune, Patrolman Kearney placed Boddie under arrest and made two attempts to place him in handcuffs.

At the third attempt he reportedly pulled out his pepper spray, at which point Boddie is accused of picking up his son and putting him in front of his face.

School workers apparently managed to get the child out of Boddie's hands, at which point he was pepper-sprayed in the side of the face.

He has been charged with simple assault, harassment, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and endangering the welfare of children ahead of a hearing tomorrow.

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