HPD: Man uses baby as shield from Taser

Clifford Nelson French charged with endangering child

Clifford Nelson French

HOUSTON – A man has been accused of using his 1-year-old son as a shield from police.

Clifford Nelson French, 50, has been charged with endangering a child.

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Houston police said French got into an argument with his common-law wife at an apartment in the 2200 block of Russell about 6:30 a.m. Thursday. Investigators said French hit the woman.

When officers arrived, he refused to be arrested and used his son as a shield when officers tried to shock him with a Taser gun, detectives said.

French ran around the apartment with the child and the woman eventually began hitting him, police said. When he tried to leave the apartment, the woman closed the door, trapping him, and began to poke him with a fork, investigators said.

French then surrendered and was taken into custody.