Actually... I think, I first stated that Gardner had already decided to Tase Massey BEFORE he has put down the clipboard. I say this because... as I watch the tape, Gardner put down the clipboard, and then STARTED REACHING FOR his taser before he he even saw Massey behind him.
After watching the tape a few more times.. ( for like, the 25th or 30th time!) I now think..... Gardner had fully intended to pull his Taser... and, when he did, he was a little bit shocked to see Massey so close to him. I think, this is why Gardner PANICKED... and went into "super-cop" mode. He was unaware that Massey had exited the car (as instructed) and walked so quickly back to show Gardner where the speed limit sign was... When Gardner turned around (with his Taser already pulled) he was frightened by Massey's position, and over-reacted.
That's as generous as I can be to Officer Gardner... and, I still firmly maintain, there was NO REASON to say, "Hop out of the car". That's where it all went bad.
“there was NO REASON to say, “Hop out of the car”. That’s where it all went bad.”
The officer had decided to place Massey under arrest (meaning in handcuffs, not necessarily going to jail).
The officer had decided (as he has stated) that the couples behavior was strange. So, the intelligent thing to do was search the vehicle.
Now, how do you search the vehicle, if you don’t have the driver “hop out of the car” and put handcuffs on him and put him in the backseat of the police car so he can’t shoot you while you do so?