Attorney claims deputy used stun belt on sniper suspect Muhammad

Associated Press | August 22, 2003

[HAL9000]

MANASSAS, Va. (AP) -- A sheriff's deputy shocked sniper suspect John Allen Muhammad with a stun belt after he refused to participate in medical tests at a hospital, his attorney said.

Muhammad was taken by sheriff's deputies and guards from jail around noon Friday to undergo a court-ordered MRI and an electroencephalogram, which monitors brain waves.

But Jonathan Shapiro, one of Muhammad's attorneys, told The Washington Post that hospital staff also wanted to X-ray the suspect's head before the MRI. Muhammad had not expected the X-ray and did not want to speak to sheriff's officials without his attorneys present, so he refused the test, Shapiro said.

He resisted by moving his head from side to side and trying to sit up, and the deputy sheriff stunned him, Shapiro said.

The account was confirmed by several other sources, the Post reported. The newspaper identified the sources only as law enforcement officials and others involved in the case.

Throughout the incident, Muhammad was restrained at the wrists and ankles and never became violent or tried to escape, the sources said.

"They were trying to force his head down and keep it still, and it was painful," Shapiro said. "Mr. Muhammad reacted, and they zapped him. ... This was absolutely unnecessary and something that was handled completely inappropriately."

Sheriff E. Lee Stoffregen III would not comment about Muhammad or what happened at the hospital, citing a court order. He would not say whether Muhammad was injured.

Peter D. Greenspun, another defense attorney, said the shock left welts.

Muhammad, 42, and fellow suspect Lee Boyd Malvo, 18, have been charged with 13 shootings, including 10 deaths, stemming from a three-week shooting spree in October in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. They are also suspected or charged in several other shootings across the country, including Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama, Arizona and Washington.

[BerniesFriend]

Poor mr muhammed..just a hard working joe who shot innocent people because he simply hated America..along with his gay illegal alien boy toy..kinda makes you cry...

[dvan]

Ditto!!! Whatever he gets is too good for him!

[dvan]

Ditto!!! Whatever he gets is too good for him!

[sheik yerbouty]

Give him a few more jolts!

[Newbomb Turk]

I hope that little ZAP was only a warmup.

[ladyinred]

OH NO! Say it isn't so! I am horrified and shocked and stuff like that!
Who cares? I am appalled that this is even a issue! This country is nuts and just begging for more attacks since all they care about is the so called rights of Terrorists. Throw them all the heck out of here!

[steplock]

Yeah ... So????

[giznort]

good

[Frances_Marion]

Remove his head from his body, then X-ray it. Problem solved.

[cavtrooper21]

Because our "non-biased" media doesn't want to OFFEND those poor suffering mis-understood muslims out there.
But any chance to spread a little dirt about the military, well thats like chumming sharks...
A$$H&L#S

[Wilhelm Tell]

Muhammad was taken by sheriff's deputies and guards from jail around noon Friday to undergo a court-ordered MRI and an electroencephalogram, which monitors brain waves.

Ah, that's the problem -- brain waves! Perhaps they should give him something that will make the brain waves stop, just like Muhammad did to his victims.

[white trash redneck]

deputy used stun belt on sniper suspect Muhammad

And the problem with this would be what...?

[steve-b]

Why did the court order an MRI in the first place?

[madison10]

Attorney Claims Sheriff Used Stun Gun on Sniper Suspect Malvo

So? The attorney can tell Malvo to sit still.

[Zeroisanumber]

Stunning a prisoner who is trying to escape is a reasonable use of force, stunning a prisoner who doesn't want an x-ray is not a reasonable use of force. Regardless of what he is accused of, a prisoner should be treated with the respect due to him under the law. This deputy should be disciplined for his actions.

[RushLake]

You mean they f--ked him up a little? Aw.....too bad for the wretched little creep. It would be nice if they could stun chief who goosed the moose for blaming the murders on white boys too.

[f.Christian]

Actually this mohummad has been getting away with his terrorism for a long time because of his race ... when he was in the army he attacked his co and unit with an incendiary grenade while they were sleeping in Saudi Arabia !

His exwife actually knew that the sniper was him just killing others to throw off the search !

I figured from early on the fifth victim would be his target (( she was avoiding him )) and the rest of the murders a smokescreen to cover his trail !

Sociopaths are not very smart to begin with ... psychopaths even worse !

I am alarmed for all that has been going on the public remains repressed and in denial ... coverup mode too !