Reporter jolted into submission

Peoria Journal Star ^ | 12/18/03 | John Sharp

[Holly_P]

PEKIN - Relax, I was told. It only hurts for five seconds.

That's what I was telling myself as I saw a red laser beam shining down toward my back as members of the Pekin police and Tazewell County sheriff's departments watched.

Sure, the Taser gun held by Pekin Police Lieutenant Tim Gleason made a relatively unimpressive "pop" when he pulled its trigger.

But this was no Fourth of July toy. What hit me were two quarter-inch prongs carrying 50,000 volts - 26 watts of electricity.

I was about to find out why my parents told me when I was a kid to never stick a fork into the light socket.

One prong penetrated through my sweater and embedded into my back, while the other hit my wallet stored in my back pants pocket.

I heard Gleason say he had a "good hit" on me. I couldn't disagree. I couldn't do anything, for that matter.

My muscles froze. My fists clenched. I grunted but did not scream. I was completely paralyzed.

Five seconds never seemed closer to an hour.

I tried to play it as cool as I could, especially in front of an audience of seasoned law-enforcement officers. They appeared to be enjoying this - watching a newspaper reporter receiving the jolt of his life.

I lost all control of my body. Thankfully, two city officers acting as "spotters" held on to me as I lost my balance.

After my five seconds of torment, the pain subsided. I stood back up and my body was relaxed. My muscles - paralyzed just seconds before - felt like rubber bands.

Gleason asked how I felt. I basically said he could do whatever he wanted with me. There was no way I would not listen to his further commands. Five more seconds of taser gun experience was incomprehensible.

I think Tazewell County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Tracy Dickson - who was also shocked - said it best when he asked Gleason, "Do you want me to mow your grass?"

[WorkingClassFilth]

Can we do this to reporters all across the country?

[martin_fierro]

Now that's journalism.

I'd pay cash money to watch Peetah Jennings try to do a Tazer story like this.

[MHGinTN]

Need to quadruple the charge though ...

[Callahan]

Hey, Helen--have I got a scoop for you!

[ovrtaxt]

There's a morning DJ here who does "dog collar Karaoke" with an Invisible Fence collar. It's like the Gong show, but more sadistic.

[Callahan]

Helen Thomas Dog Collar Karaoke. There's an headlining event for the Republican Convention.

[Callahan]

I say we let Chuck Heston do the honors.

[MHGinTN]

I like the way you think!

[Terry Mross]

This is a great humane way to interogate terrorist and Saddam. How can anyone complain? Everyday people in America get this treatment all the time so it's gotta' be humane.

[GeronL]

Tazewell County?????

[dighton]

Tazewell County?????

Great catch.

[GeronL]

Tazewell County is very apt

I think it would have been better if one of the training cops had been named Zap or something. =o)

[Holly_P]

The late senator Ev Dirksen's home town.

[Zeroisanumber]

I was hit by a taser as part of training. I'm 6'10" tall and weigh close to 290 pounds, that thing dropped me in a half-second flat and left me twitchy for 15 minutes afterwards.

Then they broke out the mace....(shudder) Freeze +p

[GeronL]

Ouch

[GeronL]

interesting... did they taze him too? =o)

[Quix]

WHY NOT START WITH THE LIBERAL IDIOT SENATORS IN WASH DC

. . . FOR GENERAL PRINCIPLES.

[concentric circles]

Until '81 the Pekin High School Dragons were the Pekin Chinks.

[Holly_P]

Wonder when they will change the Bradley Braves?