M.O.
I usually err on the side of officers...I mean if they feel threatened, they need to protect themselves or subdue the person - kid or not.
I watched the report and the officers did not know this child was mentally ill - and where was her mother? I mean, who lets a mentally ill child get off a bus by themselves - especially when the mother admits that her daughter can have these types of episodes.
Not only that, but why is this kid riding a public school bus home with other kids when she thinks it's appropriate to spit on the bus driver and throw rocks at the school bus?
In the absence of parental supervision or more information, I guess the cops did what they felt was necessary to get this girl under control. Sounds like this definitely was not "normal" 9 yr old behavior.
Besides, it was pepper spray, not a shooting or anything permanent. I agree that it sounds extreme to pepper spray a 9 yr old that's already in custody, but from the little information given in the report, it doesn't sound like this was just a kid smartmouthing.