Stun gun shot preceded man's suicide moments before New Year's Eve tragedy in Arlington

The Dallas Morning News ^ | January 4, 2003 | By JASON TRAHAN / The Dallas Morning News

[MeekOneGOP]

Several members of Mr. Wright's family said police officers came to their home and told them that a stun gun had been used during the incident.

The Dallas Morning News linked a large version of the picture in the article:

A police officer fired a stun gun at Ronald E. Wright, 35, on the State Highway 360 overpass in Arlington
just before Mr. Wright jumped to his death Tuesday afternoon. The wires hanging from the gun are attached
to the darts that deliver the electrical charge.
(RON BASELICE / DMN)

[MeekOneGOP]

Police said Mr. Wright expressed concern with a television news van that had pulled up within his line of sight near High Point Church, about a quarter mile away.

To the DMN: Then why not the title?:

Television News van pulled up to scene and preceded man's suicide moments before New Year's Eve tragedy in Arlington

[coloradan]

The police in this case are a lot more humane than in San Fransisco where a police sniper shot and killed a potential bridge jumper.

[Puppage]

Maybe they did it for the children?..sarcasm

[SSN558]

A stun gun is marketed as a non leathl tool for law emforcement. Nothing could be further from the truth.

1. A doped up or very angry person can handle the jolt and keep on fighting. I used to do this as an old bar trick. Hit me with the stun gun and if I don't spill "muh beer" you got to buy me another.

2. Because police are led to believe it is non lethal they will use it more often and in situtations where deadly force is not allowed.

3. I know of a persons father that has alzheimers and did not cooperate with the police because he was confused. The stun gun nearly killed him due to a heart condition.

4. The aging population of the U.S. and increased use of medical implant devices, i.e. pacemakers for example, insure that more of these stun gun uses will result in a negligent death lawsuit.

[Consort]

[xJones]

Good grief, Meek, they talked to that guy for three hours, a job I surely wouldn't want to have. But his family shouldn't blame the police, they tried their best but that guy was determined to go and wanted to make a scene of it.

[DWSUWF]

"...The police in this case are a lot more humane than in San Fransisco where a police sniper shot and killed a potential bridge jumper..."

I wonder how close to the end of the shift each violent act by police occurred?

[MeekOneGOP]

But his family shouldn't blame the police, they tried their best but that guy was determined to go and wanted to make a scene of it.

Oh, I know. And if the DMNs report is correct and accurate, it appears they don't (I hope not, anyway):

Roscoe Wright, Ronald Wright's father, said the Arlington police officers who came to his home after his son died were "professional, polite and courteous."

"They said if we have more questions, to contact them and they'll be glad to answer them," Mr. Wright said.

[MeekOneGOP]

You make some very good points.

4. The aging population of the U.S. and increased use of medical implant devices, i.e. pacemakers for example, insure that more of these stun gun uses will result in a negligent death lawsuit.

My Dad - age 71 - has a pacemaker, as do more and more people these days...

[The Turbanator]

"Dam, I reached for the wrong choice of weapons again."

[eno_]

I have to agree. It was the suicidal person themselves that took the decision to jump. That puts a pretty low limit on whatever liability the police have here.

The really bone-headed thing the police did was try to cover up the use of the stun gun. The BS about the man being agitated by the approach of a TV station's truck was not only dishonest, it could have gotten the suicide's family angry with the TV station. That could have created a dangerous situation.

[csvset]

What's the problem? The dumb SOB got his wish, he died.

[xJones]

The really bone-headed thing the police did was try to cover up the use of the stun gun. The BS about the man being agitated by the approach of a TV station's truck was not only dishonest, it could have gotten the suicide's family angry with the TV station.

I can't argue with you, that was dishonest and dumb on the police's part. They were undoubtedly doing CYA to avoid any family lawsuits after the man splatted himself, and the police shouldn't have tried to cover up the stun gun. They were probably in shock, they had tried to talk to the man for hours, did their best, and then he jumped. The police negotiator may be feeling bad now, but he shouldn't; some people you just can't help.

[Lion's Cub]

The police negotiator may be feeling bad now, but he shouldn't; some people you just can't help.

I agree. There are no guarantees of success--all you can do is try. Beating yourself up because something didn't work is not being fair to yourself. One victim is enough.

[computerjunkie]

"At 2:30 p.m., Mr. Wright got off the ledge and slid to a sitting position next to the retaining wall - seemingly out of harm's way. A police negotiator sat a few feet away from him.

Thirty minutes later, he rose again and straddled the wall, one leg hanging over the side."

I saw this article in this morning's paper, and this is what stood out in my mind. While I'm certainly no expert in dealing with situations like this, if a police negotiator sat a few feet away from him for thirty minutes, couldn't he have just reached over and grabbed him? I have seen several articles about this and I don't recall any indication Mr. Wright was armed.

[mamalujo]

what is that object behind the jumper?
It looks like a bag or something.

[the rifleman]

The M26 will drop you when you're hit with it, the wave length of the electrical charge is very close to the wave length of muscel tissue control signals. The amperage is bumped up alittle also. The lower dart probably missed, it's set at a 8 degree angle to the top dart which is right on the laser spot, at 21 feet it's 36" low. The officer has to take this into consideration when firing and tilt the gun alittle respective to the bodys angle.

The guy went over the side like he said he would and that's to bad. Perhaps using the experimental glue gun would have stuck him to the side of the bridge. At any rate, better luck next time.

[MeekOneGOP]

what is that object behind the jumper?
It looks like a bag or something.

I don't know. I thought it was the back of a policewoman's head...

[FITZ]

Several members of Mr. Wright's family said police officers came to their home and told them that a stun gun had been used during the incident.

Too bad they can't get the family to the scene to try and talk to the guy before trying the stun gun.