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Police Stun Gun Kills Teen with Bible
Kerry Fox Live Blog ^ | 10-31-2006

Posted on 10/31/2006 6:44:53 AM PST by Types_with_Fist

JERSEYVILLE, Ill. - A teenager carrying a Bible and shouting “I want Jesus” was shot twice with a police stun gun and later died at a St. Louis hospital, authorities said.

In a statement obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press, police in Jerseyville, about 40 miles north of St. Louis, said 17-year-old Roger Holyfield would not acknowledge officers who approached him and he continued yelling, “I want Jesus.”

Police tried to calm the teen, but Holyfield became combative, according to the statement. Officers fired the stun gun at him after he ignored their warnings, then fired again when he continued struggling, police said.

Holyfield was flown to St. Louis’ Cardinal Glennon Hospital after the confrontation Saturday; he died there Sunday, police said.

An autopsy was planned for Tuesday.

The statement expressed sympathy to Holyfield’s family but said city and police officials would not discuss the matter further.

Calls Tuesday to Jerseyville Police Chief Brad Blackorby were not immediately returned. The department has been using stun guns for about five months, according to the statement.

In a report released in March, international human rights group Amnesty International said it had logged at least 156 deaths across the country in the previous five years related to police stun guns.

The rise in deaths accompanies a marked increase in the number of U.S. law enforcement agencies employing devices made by Taser International Inc. of Scottsdale, Ariz. About 1,000 of the nation’s 18,000 police agencies used Tasers in 2001; more than 7,000 departments had them last year, according to a government study.

Police had used Tasers more than 70,000 times as of last year, Congress’ Government Accountability Office said.

Amnesty International has urged police departments to suspend the use of Tasers pending more study. Taser International said the group’s count was flawed and falsely linked deaths to Taser use when there has been no such official conclusion.

The city of St. Louis also drew unwanted attention for crime this week when it was named the most dangerous U.S. city by Morgan Quitno Press. The ranking looked only at crime within St. Louis city limits, not its metro area.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: donutwatch; stungun; taser; teen
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To: HEY4QDEMS
If police were properly informed about this, they may be less cavalier about using them

Before cops can carry Tasers, part of the certification process is that they have to be shot with it themselves. So I've been told.

21 posted on 10/31/2006 7:29:09 AM PST by VeniVidiVici (In God we trust. All others we monitor.)
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To: Types_with_Fist

Bet when the autopsy is done you won't be blaming the cops.


22 posted on 10/31/2006 7:30:52 AM PST by badpacifist (I want you, I need you. But there ain't no way I'm ever gonna love you. So don't be sad.)
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To: HamiltonJay
Sorry, but based on what little info is in this article, its hard to believe the cops didn't handle this situation poorly all the way around.

Where this is a tragedy, I'm not for passing judgment against the cops, I really think that policy protocols are what need to be reviewed.

Stun guns and other alternative weapons that are deemed non lethal give the officers a false sense of comfort which makes them more inclined to use what they believe to be a "safe" alternative to firearms and mitigate the risk of personal injury by engaging a suspect up close.

In fact many departments citing safety concerns instruct there officer to use stun guns, bean bag guns, etc. to subdue a subject rather than risk personal harm through physical contact.

The result in this case was deadly and I'd be willing to bet that the LEOs involved are heartsick over it. They are humans after all.
23 posted on 10/31/2006 7:31:42 AM PST by HEY4QDEMS (Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.)
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To: Types_with_Fist
“I want Jesus.”

Well, there you go, kid.
24 posted on 10/31/2006 7:32:12 AM PST by July 4th (A vacant lot cancelled out my vote for Bush.)
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To: Types_with_Fist

Death by government-appointed agents. Who says that we live in a free country?


25 posted on 10/31/2006 7:33:06 AM PST by Leftism is Mentally Deranged
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To: jiggyboy
My two cents:

Granted, this situation is extreme. I am sure the cops expected this to stun; in extreme rare cases, it can kill. In my town, a poor kid with 15 warrants on him ran from the cops (because his mama always told him “you always run from the cops!”), stopped in a dark ally, made a grab for his pants that they interpreted as a grab for a gun, and he got shot. (We had riots for days after, with Rhyming Reverends from out of town.)

I was always taught that when the nice policeman tells you to do something, you do it. You are perfectly free to challenge him, then and there. But worst case you are going to get put in a cell, and lawyers can help you then. Stay cool and cooperate.

Ten years ago, I had cop lights come on behind me. I pulled over, he came up to my window, checked my license, and knocked snow off the license plate. He then apologized for stopping me, and told me that somebody in a car like mine had robbed a bank, and he couldn’t read my plate. He thanked me, and we both went on our way.

The cops should have been more careful, and the kid should have listened.

26 posted on 10/31/2006 7:34:05 AM PST by 50sDad (The GOP dumped Foley, the Dems kept Clinton. See the difference?)
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To: 50sDad

The kid sounds like he was having a psychotic episode.

I can defend one taser jolt. Two is unforgivable. The cop was just being lazy.


27 posted on 10/31/2006 7:37:36 AM PST by floridareader1
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To: Types_with_Fist

A stun gun is not a taser.


28 posted on 10/31/2006 7:39:05 AM PST by Sir Gawain
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To: Types_with_Fist
Police tried to calm the teen

Well, he's pretty "calm" now.

29 posted on 10/31/2006 7:39:26 AM PST by montag813
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To: Types_with_Fist; Salem; NYer; WKB

A sad story. Somehow I think there's more to it than we're reading here.


30 posted on 10/31/2006 7:42:09 AM PST by Fiddlstix (Warning! This Is A Subliminal Tagline! Read it at your own risk!(Presented by TagLines R US))
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To: Brilliant
Why do you suppose the stunned him twice?

Because they wanted to show him who was boss.

31 posted on 10/31/2006 8:03:29 AM PST by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote.)
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To: floridareader1

Whaa???

What the hell is wrong with that cop??

He should be fired! No if's, and's, or but's about it.


32 posted on 10/31/2006 8:05:12 AM PST by Bigh4u2 (Denial is the first requirement to be a liberal)
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To: Leftism is Mentally Deranged

Well you are FREE to leave it.


33 posted on 10/31/2006 8:06:13 AM PST by justshutupandtakeit (If you believe ANYTHING in the Treason Media you are a fool.)
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To: Bigh4u2

File under, "Be Careful What You Ask For."


34 posted on 10/31/2006 8:08:22 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: Bigh4u2

She. It is the cop that is standing that fires.


35 posted on 10/31/2006 8:11:48 AM PST by TankerKC (I Predict that over 50% of the Major Party Candidates Will Lose on Election Day!)
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To: TankerKC

The black cop almost got killed by the female officer.


36 posted on 10/31/2006 8:16:32 AM PST by floridareader1
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To: Types_with_Fist


If it was a kid carrying a Koran screaming "I want Mohammed" there would be outrage EVERYWHERE today...


37 posted on 10/31/2006 8:28:32 AM PST by Tzimisce (How Would Mohammed Vote? Hillary for President! www.dndorks.com)
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To: raybbr

Hmmmm... I bet that's not what they tell the jury.


38 posted on 10/31/2006 8:35:03 AM PST by Brilliant
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To: Brilliant

Just curious, why do YOU suppose they stunned him twice?


39 posted on 10/31/2006 8:41:53 AM PST by HEY4QDEMS (Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.)
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To: TankerKC

Sorry.

Couldn't tell from the video if it was she or he.

Looked like a 'he' to me, but then again, my eyesight isn't what it used to be.


40 posted on 10/31/2006 8:42:52 AM PST by Bigh4u2 (Denial is the first requirement to be a liberal)
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