Death of teen on bike shows risks of expanded use of Tasers

St Petersburg Times ^ | Aug 1, 2010 | Meg Laughlin

[driftdiver]

Late one night in October, a 17-year-old on a bike was chased by a police officer in a cruiser. When the boy refused to stop, the officer aimed his Taser out the driver's window and fired. The boy fell off the bike and the cruiser ran over him, killing him.

[Fundamentally Fair]

You need to see the video...

[tenthirteen]

This has turned into such a nasty fight, I may regret getting into it. But....I've been an LEO for more than three decades, and one thing I've learned is that one can never glean the real truth fron any newspaper or TV reporter source. They are there to sensationalize, and sell script. Pensacola is about three hundred miles form St. Pete, so you can guess why the St pete times is there; to sensationalize and stir the pot. They alone are famous for that. As far as this case goes, it seems to truly reek of corruption, bad judgement mixed with tragedy. If what we read is true (IF!) then that PO does not even belong as a mall cop. The several places I have worked would have washed him out a long time ago. As far as the bike rider goes, I sense he wrote his own script; if he stops, he lives. He didn't, so he doesn't. The Officer, though, owed a higher quality of care to ensure that the outcome he got should not have occurred.

The training officer program at that agency failed everybody. In the end, that in my opinion, is the root cause for this regrettable incident. It has to change.

[Mr Rogers]

Just finished reading Serpico. Ah, for the good old days, when cops took money from gamblers instead of killing people for...anything!

[Fundamentally Fair]

I've been an LEO for more than three decades, and one thing I've learned is that one can never glean the real truth from any newspaper or TV reporter source.

Absolutely true.

[scott7278]

I don’t care if he did have a hidden weapon on him. It is irrelevant to the cause of death.

[TigersEye]

Locally, last week a kid in a stolen car was shot and killed after running into numerous cars, a house, a long chase through an urban area, collided with police cars and was in the process of attempting to run over the police when he was shot and killed.

The logical connection to this story is so obvious. Tazer kids on bicycles before the situation turns into one like you described. /s

Thanks for a neurotic overdose!

[TigersEye]

This is the internet. Nobody gets their ass kicked here.

Sadly some people don't even know why that is funny. But it is. LOL

[B-Chan]

[B-Chan]

And you sir are dangerously close to getting your ass kicked.

By who? You? Oooo, I'm sooooooo scared.

[B-Chan]

Scientific Fact: Most people on FR are illiterate clods who ought to pay me for the privilege of sharing my oxygen.

How’s that for mocking?

Get over yourself, Nancy.

[B-Chan]

I don’t have any problem with the cop tasering him. The kid falling under the car was a tragic accident but those things happen when you run from the cops.

How I pity you.

[Past Your Eyes]

You’re thinking of lawyers. Oh, wait....

[driftdiver]

“As far as the bike rider goes, I sense he wrote his own script; if he stops, he lives. He didn’t, so he doesn’t.”

Perhaps if he was a rapist, druggie, murderer or something else.

Negligent homocide for starters but we know that will never happen.

[tenthirteen]

I make no excuse for the PO; he used extremely bad judgement on that day and caused an unnecessary tragedy. The bike rider also used bad judgement, however, he never should have paid for it with his life. The PO should be held accountable for what occurred. I, for one ,would not feel comfortable if he should continue as an LEO in that, or any, community.

[driftdiver]

He should be fired for the way he was driving before the tazer use. Getting fired is the least of what he should face.

[Moonman62]

Watch the video and listen to the audio. Cop shoots kid from his moving car, runs him over, and is then video taped crawling under the car with a silver item. Dead kid is later found to have a silver gun. Cop gets off.

According to the article, the silver item was floppy.

[driftdiver]

“According to the article, the silver item was floppy.”

Appeared to be floppy. Why did he go to his car to get it? Why did he crawl under the car and leave it there?

[Moonman62]

If the officer was going to plant a floppy gun why did he do it right in front of the camera?

[GlockThe Vote]

99.9% of cops give the other .01% a bad name.

[GlockThe Vote]

People who say that are not conservatives, patriots, or good citizens, they are enablers of murders, tyrants, and jack boots.