TUCUMCARI, N.M. -- A teenage girl in New Mexico is recovering after a police officer shot her with a Taser dart, authorities said.

It happened Thursday in Tucumcari, N.M., when officers said the girl tried to get away from them.

Stacy Akin said she and her 14-year-old daughter were arguing over a cell phone Thursday and she drove her daughter to the Tucumcari Police Department to seek help.

While in front of police headquarters, the girl ran off and was later found at a park by Chief Roger Hatcher.

Hatcher said he got out of his vehicle and called to her but she ran in front of his patrol car across a street without looking for traffic.

He said he tried to catch up to the girl by foot but couldn't and believes he had no other option than to fire a Taser dart to stop her.

Akin said the dart entered her daughter's skull and she remains in pediatric intensive care after undergoing surgery Friday morning at University of New Mexico hospital in Albuquerque.

The girl's parents now are questioning whether excessive force was used by police and whether the department should review its policy on Tasers.