Thank you for your response, and question.
Happy Thanksgiving Holiday to you and your family.
“Do you agree that by tasing the guy along a busy highway, the trooper put the guy’s life at risk?”
No. I think that the driver put himself at that risk by not following the officer’s instructions.
The driver had walked back and forth and was walking close to the edge of the shoulder, and could have gotten hit by passing traffic, regardless to whether he was ever tazered or not.
When the officer said “turn around and put your hands behind your back”, he could have simply complied.
Here is what I think would have been a WISER choice for the officer.
He should have asked for the ignition keys.
He should have told the driver to stay seated.
He should have waited for backup to arrive, then asked the driver to get out.
And, as I’ve said before, Hindsight is 20/20. Being there, having to make split second/life or death decisions is much harder.
Be wary Ken, just after UCANSEE2 tells you “Happy Thanksgiving”... he turns on you and calls you names.... Like, “Hillary”. :-)
Hey coppers... I have good news. I now have ONE neighbor’s wife who thinks this entire incident was ALL Massey’s fault. But, I’m not sure you’re going be to all that happy with her reasoning.
She said... (and I am QUOTING! NOT, my words..) :
“99.9% of all cops on the road are brainless arrogant pricks, and there is NO REASON to even attempt to discuss anything with them”.
THIS is the image this guy, Gardner, gives you... Are you guys all OK with that? I’m guessing.. yea.
Well.. at least, now... you're admitting that the officer could have made better choices... we're making SOME progress.
UCANSEE2: No. I think that the driver put himself at that risk by not following the officer's instructions.
Are we in agreement that tazing in those circumstances did indeed put the driver's life at increased risk? (regardless of who was responsible)
The driver had walked back and forth and was walking close to the edge of the shoulder, and could have gotten hit by passing traffic, regardless to whether he was ever tazered or not.
Oh, come on now. You cannot compare the risk of walking along a highway in full control of your faculties, with the risk of being tazered in the same setting.
The driver could have easily fallen into the traffic lane and he would have been pretty much helpless.