I thought the things were to be used when there was a threat to the officer or others. I guess they also use them when the citizen peon fails to show the proper respect to "The Law".
After the driver was told he was under arrest, the driver escalated by walking away and putting his hands in his pockets after being told to put his hands behind his back.
The prisoner was not secured and it was a very dangerous moment in an arrest. When his wife exited the vehicle and posed an unknown second threat, that delayed the cuffing process even more. There is no such thing as a routine traffic stop, only an unknown risk stop. After disregarding the order to put your hands behind your back and putting your hands in your pockets is a frisk factor in any case.
The guy wasn’t tazed for being a jerk, he was tazed because it was the least use of force reasonable for the arrest situation. I would not want to be in either a knock-down drag-out fight in a roadway. He was headed back to the driver’s seat and the suspect getting back into the vehicle after ALL the strange behavior from the suspect is not acceptable. If he chose to take off and endangered everyone in a chase, he would endanger his pregnant wife and everyone on the roadway.
I’ve seen tapes where the driver is trying to comply and the officer is clearly in the wrong. Second guessing the officer on his successful tactics resulting a no real injury arrest, is tough.
The tazer had no noticeable after effect on the suspect. He was still demanding his Miranda Rights. He should have invoked his rights and remained silent. He might have at chance at some money then.
DK