Tasered woman goes on trial (Police: "It's Taser Time!")

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

<snip>

The police car video of the traffic stop late one night in November of 2003 shows two officers questioning a suspected drunk driver at a gas station at 116th Street and Brooks School Road.

Minutes later, Hamilton County Sheriff Deputy Greg Lockhart made a declaration as the woman reached into her car for her cell phone. "It's Taser time."

<snip>

Marshall, five-foot-five and 105 pounds, says she couldn't believe an officer who outweighs her by nearly three times, along with a second deputy, used a Taser. "It was almost like it was a malicious, vindictive movement like, drop to the ground but I am just going to keep pushing this button and I know you can't fall. It was just very horrible."

<snip>

"There was no fighting and there was no force applied to that officer whatsoever." Marshall's attorney says what especially concerns him is that at least ten seconds passed between the officer announcing "Taser time" and when he used it. "If you are really faced with a genuine situation where there is an immediate threat to the officer or that person to themselves, you are going to react quickly."

<snip>

http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=3448488

Thank god it wasn't five years ago, they would have had to shoot her.

Is my memory going bad? I really don't remember all that many traffic stops, handcuffed prisoners and misbehaving kids getting shot before taser justice came into being.

[rexcat]

1. I am sure the police use Tasers in this type of situation

as punishment. Guilty until proven otherwise.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

3. Since they can't punch a belligerent suspect in the face...

they now have a taser for the jerk who says something about the policeman's heritage.

[KansDem]

2. Trial...already?!

This just happened a couple of days ago. Man, why couldn't Rush had been caught in Indiana with a trunk full of controlled substance!

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

4. This is a different case. I think you are talking about one in Fl

[KansDem]

5. Oh, sorry.

I thought it was a bit quick. I'm still waiting for the Rush Limbaugh trial, if it will ever happen...

[LiberalFighter]

8. Incident occurred Nov 2003

[Sgt. Baker]

6. More freedom

The taser gives them more freedom to use something against people. It is considered nonlethal and has picked up the role of subduing people. It is chosen over the baton which has gotten them into a considerable amount of trouble over and over again.

Kids pretaser time were not being shot because the police know a gun is lethal and were less willing to shoot at a kid for small offenses. Now that there is the taser they can still shoot something and not actually kill. Then jump in with the baton to finish the job.

[LiberalFighter]

7. More freedom to be incompetent