Posted on 05/07/2006 12:43:59 PM PDT by seowulf
REDMOND - The Redmond Police Department is facing a $1 million lawsuit after a woman says an officer used his Taser on her during a medical emergency.
Video from the police car camera shows that something was wrong with Leila Fuchs last July when police pulled her out of her car. For nearly 10 minutes when officers first pulled up, they say she remained unresponsive.
"She's just gotten into this collision at Redmond Way and 145th -- small accident," said defense attorney James Egan.
But he says it's the decisions an officer made when Fuchs wouldn't unlock her door that has them suing the department.
Egan says his client was suffering from a diabetic episode when medics tried to get her attention.
"So the medic brings a window hammer here," Egan says, pointing to the video.
Then, Egan says an officer took matters into his own hands.
"He bashed in the passenger side window, opened the door, and immediately ordered her to open her driver side door," Egan said. "Even according to (the officer), she was dazed, catatonic, and non-responsive. At that point, he pulls his Taser out, and says if she doesn't open it, he will shoot her."
Egan says the officer used his gun and hit Fuchs with 50,000 volts of electricity.
"He didn't shoot her for one second," Egan said. "He shot her for the full five seconds… and caused her to stiffen and scream, according to his police report as this happened, and here she was suffering a medical emergency."
Police reports claim officers could initially smell the odor of alcohol in the car, but after they got Fuchs out and did a breath test, they determined there was no trace of alcohol found.
"He jumped the gun... literally," Egan said. "And that's when he tried to electrocute someone he apparently thought was intoxicated."
Calls to the Redmond Police about the video and the lawsuit were not immediately returned Saturday evening. Police records, though, back up the fact that the Taser was used and that Fuchs did not have any traces of alcohol in her system.
I wish we could have homeschooled. I wouldn't be in the spot I'm in now if I could. That's what I get for not paying attention in school myself.
Your kids seem to be getting a great, well rounded, real world education.
I salute you.
See, now you've committed menacing, or even intimidation, which is a felony. You could be subject to tasering by some police departments.
She has a gun in her lap, but is afraid to use it on herself. So she chooses suicide by cop and makes the decision to shoot at the police officer as soon as he gets close.
But she didn't have a gun in her lap. By your logic anyone who is stopped for speeding should be shot because they might have a gun on them.
Bring it on. I don't play games when people F with me and mine.
hahahahaha....
I think you'd make a fine police officer. We may even give you a taser. I like your attitude.
I should mention that I don't hate cops and respect at least half of them, but a badge don't make any right.
My wife had a friend who was a cop who used his badge as a license to break just about every driving law that was and get off.
I have seen good and bad cops, and it seems that more and more of them as I get older, really should not have the job.
I would be the first to admit I would make a piss poor cop.
I don't like alot of cops myself.
I think cops reflect our society. Our society as a whole seems to be less educated, ruder and self centered. So, to me it is no surprise that these young cops are cut from the same cloth.
But THIS PERSON was neither argumentive and combative -- she was catatonic. There's no excuse for tasering someone in that state. What's wrong with just opening the door since the window was already smashed?
Then those departments need to be on the receiving end of multi-million dollar lawsuits until they change that policy.
Things like that are the reason why I believe police forces should either be privatized, or have each and every officer be forced to face election by their jurisdiction. If they abuse their power they can be replaced. Maybe then they can focus on real criminals and not be constantly harassing people in traffic for tax revenue.
Well having an election wouldn't work with my case, the cops there specialized on stopping out-of-town cars. They knew better than mess with the hand that feeds them.
True. I suppose if done on a large scale the town would suffer from people avoiding it because of their local LEO thugs. No visitors=less revenue for the locals.
Yeah, makes you wonder doesn't it?
Makes me wonder that maybe there is more to the story than what the media and a trial lawyer, who is trying to convince a jury that this cop is pure evil so said trial lawyer can make alot of money, may only be telling his side of the story.
Is that possible? I know it happened to me. Most cops don't get to tell their side of the story because they are not allowed to talk to the media.
All I'm trying to do is look at the other side of the coin. If this cop did wrong then I hope he gets what he deserves.
Their bodies are also throwing off ketones like a SOB, so their breath smells like acetone...or alcohol if you're not picky.
I don't know about you Cap'n, but the first thing they taught us as first responders is many a diabetic has died in the drunk tank; you'd think the message would have gotten around by now.
She was just in an accident. Your scenarios are equally valid if the victim was injured in the accident. Is it standard procedure to taser an accident victim who is "dazed, catatonic and nonresponsive" or should you see if they are in need of medical help first? What is the standard procedure for checking on accident victims? Tasers?
Funny isn't it? Police departments issue tasers to cut down on arrest injury and try to reduce liability and they end up looking worse.
That's why I say Judo should be mandatory for all police officers, like it is, or once was, in Japan.
Hands, Stick, Gun.
The first guy I saw, arrested by a 15 year veteran, almost did die in the drunk tank.
Yeah, you'd think the message would get around. Maybe this'll help.
So must all people over age 50 be barred from driving lest they have a stroke or heart attack on a road where you or members of your family are? There are far more accidents on the roads each day from people suffering a sudden stroke/heart attack incident than they are from victims of diabetic hypoglycemia.
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