Posted on 07/20/2008 12:43:55 PM PDT by LibWhacker
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - Family members are angry and speaking out after Dayton police used a stun gun on a woman who is blind and suffering from cancer. Police said they were looking for a suspect when they knocked on Denise Harris's door Thursday morning. But according to both police and witnesses, things quickly got out of hand and Harris was tased.
"She was able to force herself down on to the floor and not be cooperative, grabbing on to the detective. A taser was dry stunned onto her arm to control her hand movement, then she was cuffed," said Sgt. Charles Anderson.
Her family said she was yelling at officers because she was scared.
"She was terrified. She was extremely terrified," said Harris's niece, Dionna. "She was scared because the person identified themselves as a police officer. But she's been robbed before by someone using the same technique."
They said police used unnecessary force when officers came to the Fernwood Avenue apartment looking for Harris's son, who is wanted. Officers said Harris attacked a detective.
"She's blind and they pulled her off her Futon, handcuffed her and tased her because he said she swung at him. She can't see," said Harris's sister Elvita Harris. "I'm very frustrated and upset. Dayton police need to implement a sensitivity program."
Neighbors said they told officers she was blind and sick.
"It was heartbreaking," Brenda Miles said. "I was almost in tears because I know the lady and I look out for her because she's blind."
Harris was taken to Good Samaritan for treatment.
The officers actions will be investigated, but Sgt. Anderson said Harris should have told them she was scared.
"She does not have to open her door. It was a voluntary thing for her to open her door," he said.
Harris is now facing charges for assault on a police officer and resisting arrest.
She’s innocent.
Aarrgghh...........
The police didn't also shoot her seeing-eye dog and the puppy she was carrying?
Phony story!
It is a “voluntary” action to open the door when the police come knocking? You mean, they can’t knock down your door if they want to? And if the neighbors told the police that she is blind, they didn’t listen anyway?
I sure hope that the young man that lives with her is not the culprit. She does not need that kind of trouble.
Yep, that'll work.
Yea, She had been known to carry a long white stick.
/johnny
WTF ? There are so many things wrong with this situation it’s not funny. Why did they need to make a blind woman get on the floor, was *she* the suspect?
It’s too bad I’ve already stopped giving to cop charities.
Cross the line and they are free to do whatever they want.
Can anyone imagine any reason to taser a blind woman with cancer? And will the investigation into the police officers yeild anything besides a whitewash?
What?
The police didn’t also shoot her seeing-eye dog and the puppy she was carrying?
Phony story!
____________________________________
I don’t know about this story but around Cincinnati they beat an old senile guy so badly he ended up in a wheel chair. His crime was walking into a carry out with a drill and I think a paint brush in his hand. (He had staggered in there before so the clerks knew him and his situation) He was working on his house and his crime was he got a little confused. One of the Gestapo body slammed him. They walked.
The jackboot crowd will be along soon to say she deserved it
Taze the Blind.
Sounds like an album title.
Can’t you see I’m blind?
Taze the Cancerous Blind!
No, they are not free to do whatever they want. These a law enforcement officers sworn to enforce the law. Once they step across that threshold in my home, they are also free to be dragged out in a body bag.
I'm sick of this sort of behavior from officers who were once taught to act respectful rather than enforce respect through fear.
I was originally against them,but I think we need bring back the civilian review boards
“I was in fear for my life knowing that people have died from tasers and did what I had to do. Any other statements can come from my attorney.”
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