A 14-year-old Connecticut student was on Wednesday charged with "possession of a weapon at school, breach of peace and attempted assault" after turning up at his Clinton classroom with a "homemade weapon" fashioned from a disposable camera.

According to Connecticut's WFSB, the Morgan High School student had opened up said camera with intention of "playfully" demonstrating on a friend that it could deliver a shock - something he'd apparently learnt on the internet.

The boy's father, Bret Haughwout, said his son "hadn't modified the camera in any way, that he had just opened it up". He added: "All he did was bring a disposable camera, take it apart, demonstrate that if you press this button you get shocked."

Haughwout is none too pleased that his boy now faces felony charges over the incident, and insisted that the device doesn't even "meet the definition of a dangerous instrument, which is the next step down from a weapon."

Clinton police Sgt. Jeremiah Dunn disagreed, explaining: "It is considered a weapon, yes; an electronic demobilizing device is considered a dangerous weapon."

The unnamed teen was suspended for 10 days following his arrest, but remains in school pending an appeal. ®

Related stories

• US teen cuffed for disorderly classroom texting (19 February 2009)
• Irregular heart rhythm? Try a Taser (28 May 2008)
• Stungun shootout in Colorado leaves slowest man standing (19 May 2008)
• Taser gun usage soaring among UK cops (12 May 2008)
• Canadian man in Taser trouser inferno shocker (24 April 2008)
• US cops taser groom, cuff drunken bride (8 April 2008)
• Notts police seize mobile phone stun gun (12 March 2008)
• US woman launches 'Taserware' parties (17 December 2007)
• Tasers can be instrument of torture, says UN (26 November 2007)