OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha police officer is facing felony charges after he detained two juveniles who had been pounding on doors in his neighborhood during the early morning hours.

The Omaha World-Herald reports that 43-year-old Ja’Price Spears is charged with two counts of terroristic threats and one count of use of a firearm to commit a felony.

Sarpy County Attorney Lee Polikov said Thursday that in early April, three juveniles were pounding on doors in the town of Gretna, then got into a vehicle. Polikov said Spears drove after them and got them to pull over, then detained two of the three and handcuffed them until sheriff’s deputies arrived.

Two of the youths are charged with disturbing the peace.

Parents of the youths contacted the sheriff’s office to complain about the use of force, prompting an investigation.

Tony Conner, president of the Omaha Police Officers Association, said it seems clear that Spears “acted in a manner consistent with a person who was facing an unknown and potentially dangerous threat, and did what he believed was necessary to protect his family, home, and neighborhood.”

Spears is on administrative leave from the police department.

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