Posted on 04/20/2005 5:27:20 PM PDT by BenLurkin
MIAMI (AP) A woman who allegedly overstayed her welcome at a motel was zapped nine times with a stun gun as police arrested her.
Patricia Skelly's attorney said there was little evidence that the 110-pound woman posed such a danger that repeated use of the Taser was needed. But authorities Wednesday defended the use of force, saying Skelly was extremely combative.
Skelly, 47, was arrested Easter Sunday at a motel in Valparaiso in the Florida Panhandle when the owners were unable to determine whether she would leave or stay another night.
``It's just not right what happened to me,'' Skelly told reporters. ``How I lived through this, I don't know.''
Larry Caskey, director of the Okaloosa County Department of Corrections, said officers were forced to use the Taser because Skelly tried to wriggle out of handcuffs, escape from a patrol car and bite her own hand.
``It doesn't look good, but when you take it step by step, I feel like they acted appropriately,'' he said.
The woman's case comes amid increasing nationwide debate over police use of Tasers.
In Tallahassee on Wednesday, a Senate committee approved a bill providing statewide guidelines for Taser use and requiring departments to provide at least four hours of training before using the stun guns.
"Patricia Skelly gestures as she speaks during a news conference Wednesday, April 20, 2005 as her attorney Ellis Rubin looks on in Miami. Skelly, who arrested on Easter Sunday for staying too long at a Florida Panhandle motel, says she was stunned multiple times with a Taser in an excessive use of force. Officials say the Taser use was used an unusual amount of times but was justified." (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Drug skinny?
Despite shocking her 11 times she's still skanky.
I don't know a darn thing about this, but it sounds like the police just ran out of patience and wanted results so they did a little pursuading. A 110 Lb woman? Give me a break will you?
She's a "Skell" literally.
Have a heart you guys!
8^)
Officials say the Taser use was used an unusual amount of times but was justified.
ummm ok.
That would have been much less fun.
Oh, okay. I'm sorry she's a skank.
How come this loser couldn't find a finger in her chili like normal sue-a-holics do?
That's what K-9 is for.
Your right, I guess I should. Call it a weak moment.
Ohh, you better taze her again, she is trying to Bite Her Hand???
Don't look like it did her any good. Zap her again and see if she gets a clue.
Does her attorney think it would be better if they just gave her a night-stick shampoo ?
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