By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
CHARLOTTE, NC — A Charlotte-Mecklenburg school resource officer remains employed after an internal investigation determined he used excessive force when body-slamming a 14-year-old Black female student, causing a brain injury that resulted in loss of consciousness and seizures. Officer Hasun Rogers received a two-day unpaid suspension and removal from school assignment, but was not terminated.
The incident occurred following school dismissal at West Charlotte High School when Rogers responded to reports of a fight. Police communications indicated warnings of a possible gang-related altercation, and a large crowd quickly formed in the parking lot as students ran toward the disturbance.
According to witness accounts and viral video footage, Rogers deployed his Taser to control the crowd before physically engaging with Ke’Nadie Cathey during the chaos. The video shows Rogers grabbing Cathey, lifting her off the ground, and throwing her onto the pavement while still holding his stun gun. Witnesses reported she immediately lost consciousness upon impact.
Cathey’s mother, Shakera Rorie, confirmed her daughter had been involved in a fight before officers intervened. She stated the family did not anticipate the level of force applied and only learned the full extent of injuries through subsequent medical evaluations and legal consultation. Rogers called for medical assistance after Cathey became unresponsive.
Attorney Michael Littlejohn, representing the family, stated Cathey suffered a serious brain injury directly linked to the incident. He questioned the rapid escalation of force and raised concerns about the appropriateness of such physical intervention against a 14-year-old during a school disturbance.
An internal affairs review conducted months after the incident examined Rogers’ actions and the use-of-force protocols. The investigation resulted in a two-day unpaid suspension and reassignment from school resource officer duties. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police leadership documented the incident details in official correspondence, including pre-fight warnings and crowd dynamics.
The viral video sparked widespread public debate over appropriate levels of force for school resource officers responding to juvenile disturbances. Cathey’s family has called for accountability, though plans for legal action remain unclear.