Posted on 11/21/2007 11:58:07 AM PST by Sopater
An internal police investigation is under way after a formal complaint was filed against a Utah state trooper who was videotaped Tasering a man who refused to sign a speeding ticket.
The officer's conduct has been called into question after a videotape of the incident was posted on YouTube.
The video, taken from a Utah Highway Patrol dashboard camera, shows Trooper John Gardner using a Taser on Jared Massey during a traffic stop on State Road 40 in Uintah County on Sept. 14.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
It’s not a “lie” if you say it off-hand and it’s your actual mis-recollection. If he swears to it, and there’s evidence that me knew it wasn’t the truth, I’d agree. I believe he was agitated and thought he said “or you gonna get tazed”. God knows he gave the guy enough warning by pointing the taser at him.
It doesn’t really change the material facts, though and I don’t think it will impact any actions on the officer.
The officer doesn't have to Mirandize him at all, unless he begins a custodial interrogation. He ought to, sure, once things are secure. One would hate for the suspect to confess that he was the weedwacker serial killer on the way to the jail, and then have that confession overturned because the officer had not receited the mantra handed down by Chief Justice Warren.
I don't think so. He was ordering the man to stop and put his hands on the car. When he didn't do it, the cop pulled his tazer and repeated the order, at least two or three times. The guy still refused and got tazered. He got plenty of warning.
Didn’t the USSC rule, about ten years ago, that a guy that blurts out a confession while he’s not being questioned (sitting in the back of a cruiser) has no right to a Miranda warning?
The whole Miranda thing is a joke anyway.
If you don’t already know your rights, you don’t have any.
“like a split skull and broken bones, etc.”
Not to argue against your point of the gun versus taser, however, the way some people fall, they could end up with a split skull. Why do you think they practice with the taser on mats?
I do not have a solution to the taser, but I do know the split skulls, broken bones can happen just based on some of the falls.
The police officer also tazed the guy in the back while he was walking away after cop pulled the tazer gun at the guy.
There was no signs the guy was a threat to the police officer and the officer would not read this guy his rights .. even after several requests
I agree that ANY level of force has it’s disadvantages, but you don’t have to wrestle with a suspect after using the tazer.
Well, usually, unless they’re Rodney King or somebody like that :)
Again, though, I don’t see the tazer leaving the scene until something “safer” comes along.
1. You don’t get to “walk away” after being ordered to submit. Sorry. He had his chance and he blew it. Front, back, in the nuts. Whatever works.
2. He was irrational, non-submittive and he turned away to where the cop couldn’t see his hands.
Again, nothing says a cop has to give everybody an even chance to kill him.
“Again, though, I don’t see the tazer leaving the scene until something “safer” comes along.”
Nor do I.
You gotta wonder what that knob does for a living.....selling comb-overs to balding metro-sexuals or does he manage a Wendy’s store?
When an officer has you in his custody and control you are under arrest. The officer does not have to tell you that you are under arrest.
if you watch the video its the cops ego that is driving the whole thing. if he had just taken a calm minute and explained to the guy, before he asked him to get out of the car, what the offense was, why he was getting a ticket and that if he had the right not to sign BUT if he didnt he would be arrested, if he did all that calmly, no situation.
the best cops i know are good at defusing.
they dont let their ego drive the situation higher. like this moron did. he should be canned from the patrol.
keep hands on steering wheel, don't fidget or adjust things.
yes sir, no sir, thank you sir.. sign the ticket...either hand the paperwork to passenger or put in passenger seat.
Sweat the details at a later time...Has always worked for me, and I've never had to utter: "Don't tase me bro"
After watching the entire video, anyone who supports this a**hole cop needs to have their head examined.
First of all, it was a speed trap. Secondly, he had NO BUSINESS tasering this guy - in the back - like a coward.
This guy needs to lose his badge. Probably on some sort of speed trap quota pay. Disgusting stuff.
The officer didn’t use lethal force.
Riiiiight.
The cop should tell him to turn around so they can draw down, Wild West style?
When you’ve earned the tazer, you’re gonna get it wherever it fits. He had plenty of opportunity NOT to get the tazer, but he figured he’d try his luck.
He pointed a tazer at the guy and ordered him to stop and put his hands on the car. That's a warning.
It's not like he was just letting the guy stand there and then without giving any orders just draws and fires the tazer. Sorry, but that guy had plenty of warning and was being belligerent. The cop didn't do anything wrong.
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