Clifford French allegedly had a novel idea for a Taser shield. Photo by HPD

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and if what Houston police allege is true, Clifford French was one one desperate guy.

Court documents say French, 50, was approached by police Thursday afternoon while he was in an argument with his common-law wife.

Things didn't simmer down in the 2200 block of Russell; in fact, they escalated to the point where an HPD officer thought it was best to use his Taser.

French, according to the documents, was ready for that move, and countered with what he had at hand. Unfortunately, what he had at hand was Clifford French III, his one-year-old son.

Police say the elder French choked the child while using him as a shield against any possible tasering.

He now faces a felony charge of child endangerment to go along with the family-member assault charge that originally triggered the cop call.

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