SC police use tazer on 75 year old woman

[chookie]

The Rock Hill Police Department is investigating why an officer used an electric stun gun on a 75-year-old woman who refused to leave a nursing home where she had gone to visit an ailing friend.
-snip-
According to the police report, Kimbrell was sitting in a chair in a waiting area when Macon, 35, ordered her to leave several times. Kimbrell refused, jerking her arms away when Macon tried to lead her toward the door.

Police say Kimbrell eventually got up but walked toward the cafeteria after spotting someone she knew. At that point, the officer blocked Kimbrell and told her she was under arrest. Kimbrell then swung her arm at the officer, according to the police report.

That's when Macon used the Taser and placed Kimbrell under arrest.
http://www.heraldonline.com/local/story/4124708p-3890580c.html

The article states the the rules for engagement are when a subject resists arrest. Hmmmm. Gee, I can see using one against some methed-up punk who's getting violent after being apprehended for car theft, but my God -- against a 75 year old woman who is agitated when told to leave a nursing home? Somehow I don't imagine that she was built like The Rock.

Am I supposed to be happy that at least they didn't shoot her?

Oh, what sad times are these when passing ruffians can say 'ni' at will to old ladies. There is a pestilence upon this land. Nothing is sacred. Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress at this period in history.

[aden_nak]

1. That demonstrates a lack of training and judgment.

The legal excuse of "it was within the rules" is not an excuse for having done something. Isn't the basic concept of "serving and protecting" a more important directive than the guidelines on when a tazer can be used? And if so, shouldn't the officer have exercised basic judgment and realized that discharging a high-voltage weapon aimed at an elderly woman could prove potentially fatal?

What if she'd had a pacemaker? What if the shock had triggered a medical problem, which would be far more likely due to her increased age? The fact that she wandered away from him while being arrested to go talk to someone in the kitchen should have tipped him off that she was not 100% mentally capable. This officer shouldn't even be reprimanded. He should be discharged from the force. He lacks the basic level of intelligence and judgment to be an officer of the law.

[JHB]

2. Elenore Bumpers continues to spin in her grave

n/t

[donsu]

3. Are the Rock Hill cops proud of themselves yet?

have they never heard of mediation and diplomacy? are those words too big for them?

[BlueJazz]

4. I agree with the Officer. The law is the Law.

I, for one, am sick and tired of this latest round of 75 year old delinquents, invading nursing homes, staying too long and than smashing innocent patrol officers in the arm. These Senior Criminals go around, probably doped-up on the newest "Miracle Cure", and act like they own the streets.
I say it's time to take back our Nursing Homes !!!

[Bunny]

5. Yeah! And she's probably getting her prescriptions from Canada, too!

Throw the book at her!!

[immoderate]

6. Taser damage is under-reported

I've done some training classes for the Miami police, as a civilian.

In a conversation with a couple of Sargents, they told me they avoided the training because part of it is they have to be "tased." One said, "When they show you the film, you see someone crumple and fall, but that's not the whole story. You can have convulsions and vomiting for hours afterward."

One female Sargent told me, "I'll let my boys go for the training. I'm qualified to use a .45, and I didn't have to get shot with it to qualify."

--IMM

[ET Awful]

8. I'm qualified to use a .45, and I didn't have to get shot with it to

qualify . . .

Now THERE'S an idea!!!!!

With vest on of course. . . . There's a training tool :)

[skygazer]

7. Did you say shrubberies?

Seriously, how bizarre. It almost sounds like a Monty Python skit.

[ghostsofgiants]

9. Because the last part was.

I think the "ni" in addition to the shrubberies should have tipped you off.

[skygazer]

10. No shit.

I was saying that the story itself was so bizarre that it sounded like a MP skit - I'm quite familiar with the Knights of Ni, thank you very much.