Posted on 12/14/2009 10:54:14 AM PST by StolarStorm
A man died after being shot with a Taser during a confrontation Sunday night with Mason police officers, according to police.
Police said Douglas Boucher, 39, of Mason died at a local hospital after he was shot by the Taser following a disturbance around 11:15 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13 at the Speedway gas station, 711 Reading Road.
Two Mason police officers stopped at the Speedway at the corner of Tylersville and Reading Road for a drink when a clerk asked them to talk to Boucher, who was causing some kind of trouble, according to a report.
The two officers approached Boucher and asked him to go outside. Police say the officers used a Taser after the confrontation got physical, and one of the officers sustained a head injury.
Boucher stopped breathing after he was stunned, police said.
He was taken to West Chester Medical Center where he died. The police officer with the head injury was treated and released from Bethesda North Hospital.
Mason police have been using Tasers since 2007.
Bouchers ex-wife Sheryl Olszewski described him as a good father.
The couple was married in 2001 just before their 8-year-old daughter was born. Olszewski said their 2005 divorce was amicable and her daughter will miss her dad terribly.
Our daughter was his light and inspiration and they enjoyed their visits tremendously, she said. Today is a sad day for her.
Boucher was a bass player and a member of the local band Hellcat Alley.
He was a very passionate person passionate about his daughter, his music, and living life fully, she said.
Doyle Burke, the chief investigator for the Warren County Coroners Office, said Butler County will perform the autopsy because he died there. He said they likely wont find the Taser actually killed him, rather a heart condition or possibly drugs, combined with the Taser shock will likely be the cause of death.
If it is a result of a Taser, itll be the first one in history, he said.
I was exposed to CS gas once. It was one of the worst experiences of my life.
Are you sure it was an Official FreeRepublic Beeber Stuner and not a "beeber-like device"? Accept no substitutes...
In legalese, it’s known as “intervening cause,” as opposed to “proximate cause,” and it’s a defense against a charge of homicide. But it’s worth considering.
This is a good argument for socialized health care; one of its features will be the government ownership of all our health records. Police would be able to access a suspect’s health care records for evidence of pre-existing health conditions (intervening cause) so that they can tailor their use of force to avoid just this sort of incident.
Of course, suspects will have to be patient with the police while they do their search, but it could ultimately save their lives, so it’s in a good cause.
Or the cops can just shoot the dirtbag and avoid all the speculation.
“Take away Tasers and what is a cop under assult going to do?”
Oh, I don’t know, get their uniforms dirty, break a nail, stub their widdle toes?
How about doing what officers did before these citizen-torture devices were allowed?
They took the job, THEY should bear the burden of these confrontations not every citizen sap that dares to offend their new found fluffiness.
Between this and sound cannons law enforcement is starting to appear like a bunch of pantywaists.
I lose a little more respect for them with every new story of some old person, sick person, young person, or crippled person that these shock therapists abuse.
If you’ve ever tried cuffing someone resisting arrest, you’d know how naive your statement sounds. It’s like saying, “why don’t they shoot to wound him,” or “why didn’t the officer kick the gun out of his hand like they do on television.” I’m sorry the guy died, but a little understanding of police tactics and the real world sometimes puts things in perspective.
The offhand, almost cavalier mention of an officer lying in a hospital with a brain injury is evidence that cops and their work are valued little more than that of houseflies.
I was exposed to CS gas once. It was one of the worst experiences of my life.
My reaction is to be expected since I have a personal connection to the guy. We’ll find out more about what happened as the days go by. But I do know that this man was not a criminal.
Yep. Mine was a training exercise, so we would know what it feels like in case we ever had to use it. I felt as though I would have gone through a brick wall to get away from it.
Yep. Mine was a training exercise, so we would know what it feels like in case we ever had to use it. I felt as though I would have gone through a brick wall to get away from it.
I agree with your post and your tagline.
The problem, and I don’t see that it was working here, is that many cops use the taser for any and no reason, just because they are allowed to use it. Getting tased because you question the reason for the ticket you are getting is a bit much. but it has happened. Its like shooting the dog when you go to a citizen’s door. It is regarded as a perk.
Just wow. Your the type of poster that gives fodder to the FR haters. You make us look like loons and sociopaths.
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