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 ...
No, the family has no case. The driver left the officer with no options. The driver made this happen.
Don't cops have to announce an arrest before demanding submission? This cop did not announce arrest.
I remember old tv shows: "Stop in the name of the law!"
no question the cop knew he had screwed up and was in big trouble. just listen to his pathetic attempt to convnce the wife. to her credit she wouldnt budge even though hugely traumatized by the bad cop.
but he knows his career as a cop is over. no doubt about it.
LOL... lemmee guess... you can still see the marks where the tazer hit you? :-)
But no announcement of arrest or taking of custody. Is that not legally required?
The officer didn’t Mirandize the victim during the course of the video. That doesn’t mean he didn’t do it after the video stopped. Once he was under arrest, the officer had probable cause to search his vehicle.
Nope.
The taser, mace, or gun is prolly the first clue you’re going to get after “Put your hands on the hood and lean forward.”
But it would sound hella-cool with an English accent:
“Sir, I am now informing you that I am enforcing an arrest on your person. Please decist and assume a submissive profile.”
No. In fact it is often best to try to get the handcuffs on before they tell somebody they're under arrest. That's when some people really lose it and get dangerous.
For what?
I find that the people who say things like “cops are Taser happy” have frequently drawn the attention of law enforcement by not obeying the law.
I’m not the only one who thinks the cop misrepresented what happened to the other officer. Your mileage may (and clearly does) vary. It’s ok with me.
susie
Cop had no control of the situation.
He should have called for back-up the minute the driver refused to sign the ticket.
Sorry .. IMO, this was an excessive use of force
I realize in many cases it is a judgement call from the police and whether there is a threat of life or not ... but from what I saw of that video, though the guy may have been a idiot to not sign the ticket .. I did not see any reason why this police officer needed to taze him like that
I wonder in how many states are you required to appear in court for a speeding ticket? In NY you can mail in the fine by checking a box that says you plead guilty or you can appear in court to protest the charge. I think that technically speeding is not an offense which requires bond.
At any rate, the officer seemed to be having a bad day and was a bit fast on the trigger. He seems in need of an attitude adjustment or training in handling cases such as these. The tazer was not warranted in this case IMHO. I mean, how fast was the guy going anyway? The cop pulls over and he passes him at a reasonable rate of speed it seemed to me. Just not a good taze in my opinion. Lots of other options.
for being a risk to the community. he cant handle a simple traffic stop without escalating it?
you don't get to taser traffic stops because the guy doesn't agree with you and who are not showing themselves a danger to you or someone else.
i spoke to admin people at the Utah Patrol hdqrts. They have been bombarded with calls. Want another reason? thats why. Its important to all of us that the cops be respected and perceived as fair, not rogue bullies.
His career should be over. From what I saw he never told the gentleman that if he doesn’t sign it then he is obligated to arrest him. He never said he was under arrest and the guy never really knew what was going on. He refused to sign the ticket and should have been advised as to the consequences of not signing it (i.e. arrest) and allowed to make a more informed decision. This particular trooper had a bad day and decided to take it out on an unsuspecting individual. The trooper had no compunction ordering him out of the car after the gentleman refused to sign the ticket. Where was the “you will be placed under arrest if you don’t”?
I get a kick out of the defenders of this and other stories like it that people seem to want to defend. In this case he put people’s lives at risk by tasering him into busy traffic. What about the protecting and serving of lives from those oncoming vehicles with families, the pregnant wife, the guy he tased?
All for a speeding ticket in questionable beginning circumstances?
This officer has to go find another line of work. Like at McDonalds where he can take my order.
Exactly.
I think the problem that people have with tasers is:
1. They look like a gun.
2. They fire like a gun and you go down quickly, like you’ve been shot.
3. You’re DONE. You’re limp and you’r vulnerable and there’s nothing you can do about it. Very humiliating if you’re the type to challenge the Po Po.
People don’t consider the alternatives to the taser.
If they saw the cop us his stick or (inadvisedly) tackle the guy, they’d see REAL violence and then become really upset.
Maybe the taser is just too “neat”.
Remember the SciFi story about the gun that made no noise?
you know it. stupid bully with a badge. D1 football didn’t want him.
Once the cop made the decision to take the doofus into custody, what should he have done?
The decision was made and, as they say, “You can bet the rap, but you can’t beat the RIDE.”
He’s already at the point where force will be required (doofus ensured that).
Believe it or not, the tazer is about the lowest level of force the cop can use.
And if he calls for his buddy and backup arrives, that tazer is STILL getting used. No need to have TWO cops wrassling around with the doofus.
Thanks.
Ramius: So police only have to make a demand to submit, and citizens must comply without questioning the command.
Except perhaps in their residence, where citizens can demand a warrant.
I’ll bet that you probably have correctly explained current law. I don’t like it, but it helps to know the law.
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