Posted on 09/20/2007 2:36:14 PM PDT by TheRealDBear
WARREN, Ohio (AP) -- A police officer accused of using a stun gun on a woman while she was handcuffed has been placed on paid administrative leave.
Video taken from Patrolman Richard Kovach's cruiser shows him jolting a woman with a Taser gun at least twice after she was handcuffed, police and city administrators said.
The woman, who had been ordered out of a bar, fell face-first to the pavement in the bar's parking lot after being struck the final time with the electrical disabling device, officials said.
Mayor Michael O'Brien said Kovach was removed from street duty about a week ago.
“He's on administrative leave per the contract we have with police,” O'Brien said. “And an internal investigation is already under way, initiated by the police department and not by way of a complaint.”
Simply because someone is hit with a Taser while handcuffed may not be against policy, said Warren Law Director Greg Hicks, citing the example of someone kicking out windows of a cruiser.
Heidi Gill, 38, was arrested Sept. 2 on charges of falsification, assault, resisting arrest, criminal damaging and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, officials said. She has pleaded innocent and faces an Oct. 25 court hearing in Warren Municipal Court.
Kovach's report said he had made several attempts to use the Taser on Gill, but it misfired repeatedly. Once inside the cruiser, she kicked out a rear window and tried to climb into the front seat, ignoring his commands to stop, he said.
“I deployed a second Taser cartridge into her and the violent turbulent action stopped immediately,” the report said. “I then requested a car with a cage for transport.”
She was again Tasered during the transfer to the second car, when she fell and was knocked unconscious, and an ambulance took her to a local hospital, the report said.
the tape speaks for itself.....
Another Ron Paul supporter?
If this is the same story as the one I saw on the local news, it looks like the woman was screaming uncontrollably. That in and of itself, is disobeying orders and would justify a taser being fired.
Did she say “Don’t taze me, bro’” and “OwieOwieOwie” like the other guy?
Video shows she was combative even after being cuffed and stuffed. Video shows her trying to kick out the windows in the cruiser. I got tasered in a training op once and all I wanted to do once unhooked was take a nap and drink water.
Justify??? Heck get some earplugs, what kind of Nancy’s are they hiring that they can’t control a drunk chick in handcuffs????
She was behaving just like "The Andrew".
What tape?
note the keywords - been sprnkling that one around
Fix news played the video this AM and it shows her screaming/yelling and flailing about while the officer is asking her to calm down. Then it shows her in back seat of car lying on her back kicking the windows and screaming.
I just saw it on another site. There’s a link below in case anyone else is interested. I think the officer acted appropriately. She was nuts.
http://www.hamptonroads.tv/index.cfm?apf=16619
I always thought that the taser was to be used instead of deadly force. From this story, I can't see where the officer was in danger. Or am I wrong, and it's used for control issues?
Do you ever see those cop shows where the perp is told to calm down and they don’t? Perfect time for a taser. Those low-lives need to learn.
Yes, I've seen them. I also saw the idiot at the Kerry function. He was handcuffed and surrounded by police when tasered. I just think they are using this too often in ways it was not meant to be used.
The taser is to be used instead of the old way of either clubbing the subject or rolling around on the ground with them. It is not a substitute for lethal force.
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