Taser stun gun kills California man

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Agence France-Presse

Taser stun gun kills California man
Posted: 20 December 2008 0725 hrs

SAN FRANCISCO: A 26-year-old man died on Friday after police used a Taser stun gun to bring him under control, a local sheriff's office in California said.

The incident occurred in San Jose, 70 kilometres southwest of San Francisco, at a hospital where police were called to break up a fight.

In trying to subdue an alleged troublemaker described as "a 26-year-old Hispanic male resident of San Jose," police fired a Taser gun at him leaving him unconscious, the Santa Clara sheriff's office said in a statement.

~snip~
Amnesty International said on Tuesday in a recent report that 334 people died in the United States between 2001 and August 2008 after being zapped with Tasers, with medical examiners and coroners concluding that Taser shocks caused, or contributed to, at least 50 of the deaths.



Read more: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/397586/1/.html

[navarth]

1. why don't they use tranquilizer darts or something? what's with all these fucking tasers?

[Pavulon]

3. The reaction to fentanyl or 9mm rounds

would be much worse. These things should be used as last resort. If they are used in that fashion they are better than a billy club or gunfire.

[byeya]

4. Tasers

Tasers were marketed to police organizations as a piece of non lethal defensive equipment. A small or older officer would not have to come into physical contact with a suspect to subdue and arrest.
With the 50 deaths, as per AI, and very public instances of misuse, I would conclude Tasers are not for everyday carry.

[Pavulon]

6. Less than lethal

like hitting a person in the head with a baton. They may not die, but they could. Again they should only be used under the same criteria as deadly force, imho.

People die, so death per use must be compared to a street fight and a baton beating.. I remember plenty of news stories about people being killed in choke holds.

[Suji to Seoul]

7. Non-lethal means NO deaths

50 is 50 too many for "non-lethal."

Please, police officers use these things like an extension of their microscopic manhoods.

Give a low self-esteem sociopath who "only follows orders" and a badge and lethal equipment and you get a low self-esteem sociopath who "only follows orders" and a badge too much power!

George Carlin was right: Two new requirements to be a police officer: Common Sense and decency.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

27. They should just shoot people instead I guess.

[VeraAgnes]

11. This could all be avoided easily....

The suspect needs to follow commands from the Policeman.....it's that simple....like "stop".

[Doremus]

15. Pretty hard to follow orders if you're having a diabetic episode

Police tasered a man in his vehicle recently for acting erratically when he was pulled over. He wasn't threatening, he was sick. The cops had tasers and, well, that's what they're for, right? Dead.

Then there was the man stuck in airport customs for something like 12 hours. Didn't speak English, spent all those hours trying to get someone to help him, finally raised his voice and threw a few chairs to get some attention and ZAP! Dead.

I could fill several pages of similar incidents where police, in their zeal to subdue, misused and/or overused tasers to the detriment of the victim.

There is nothing "simple" about this issue, but you are free to keep deluding yourself. "If you don't do anything wrong you have nothing to worry about", right? :eyes:

[October]

18. All "DU" respect...you weren't there

The guy is dead, and cannot give his version of the story.

There are plenty of tapes (Youtube) available that show cops using tasers when someone questions them. People were tasered when getting speeding tickets, and one guy was tasered while he slept on his sofa.

This is an issue that requires discussion.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Hypothetically

If a person thought one was going to be used and said "if you use that you will kill me" and it was used and did so kill the person concerned would that be premeditated murder ?

[edc]

5. Z-A-A-A-P!

:wtf: Get down! ZAP! Turn over! ZAP! Stop resisting! ZAP. Get up! ZAP,ZAP.ZAP. OOPS! Call for an emergency vehicle! Too bad! He-he-he!

[Suji to Seoul]

8. Oh, and then charge the person with "resisting arrest," which is the most bogus crime out there

Then hide behind badge sniffing lawyers and the blue code of silence when your shit hits the fans, using phrases like "felt threatened," "resisted simple directives" and "exercised extreme judgement and restraint."

I HATE POLICE!!! Good cop, bad cop. . .they're all cops and they deserve all the scorn they get.

[Honeycombe8]

9. Why do you hate cops? They're just people like any other people, with a job to do.

Some are good, some are bad. Just like doctors or pipefitters or whatever.

Why would you "hate" an entire group of people based on the job they have?

What do YOU do for a living? Just curious. What if people hated all the _____ (whatever you do for a living), even though most of you might be okay.

I like cops, myself. I've had occasion to call on them several times in my life. They're just guys and gals from down the street, who are policemen/policeowomen by vocation. They did their job for me, to the extent possible. Plus, without them, there would be anarchy. They are necessary in any democracy; the law depends on them to keep order and protect us from the crazies. There are some corrupt ones, some bad ones. But on the whole, they're just folks trying to do a job they were hired to do. (And they're underpaid, IMO.)

[izquierdista]

12. Their training

Police academies and training programs are designed to reward antisocial behavior and ridicule and minimize compassion. They are taught to view the public as their enemy and to enFORCE the law, emphasis on the use of force, not reason. I have learned long ago not to offer additional information to a cop, by way of interruption, additional pertinent facts, citing a law, etc., for they immediately take it as a challenge to their authority, a challenge which needs to be met with overwhelming force. Cadets that speak up and question why or show any sensitivity to the brutality of the methods they are being taught quickly wash out. Police officers who develop such reservations on the job find themselves with limited career opportunities.

Tasers are just the latest technology in overwhelming force, and as with their guns, they can't be taught that one jolt is enough, they continue to fire until their weapon is empty. If a truly non-lethal weapon was invented, such as a Star Trek type stun-gun, cops would still find ways of making it fatal by stunning people who then fall from a dangerous height or into water and then drown because the cop won't get wet to save them.

Without them there would NOT be anarchy. No society has enough police to prevent crime from happening; the police only show up after crimes happen and try to find out who to accuse. In some cultures (communist, for one), EVERYONE is responsible for ensuring that order is kept and ANYONE can point out a "crazy" who needs to be isolated from the rest of society. There are only a few good ones, and many, many bad ones. And the absolute WORST cops in the world are the ones to be found in the United States.

[GSPowner]

16. A bit blinded by your hatred of authority huh?

Where do you get this kind of nonsense? I can't usually stand our police they are arrogant and several I have known have an attitude of superiority. But where do get off saying crap like this which is obviously false. Well let me point out that you are "crazy" :tinfoilhat: and fueling hatred and venom and maybe you whould be isolated?

[Pavulon]

17. I have never had to pay a straight fucking bribe here

done that in Brazil and Mexico. Pay for being american or go to the worst fucking jail you can imagine. Hit the third world for some lessons on bad police. São Paulo is a great place to start.

Everything you posted is bullshit. If you have ever spoken to a police officer you would know how stupid what you posted in.

PS the USSR had police.

[izquierdista]

19. I stand by what I said

American cops are the WORST in the world. True, they won't take a $10 bribe, but they will give you a $150 ticket for an infraction you never committed.

[WriteDown]

20. Haha...

Spoken like someone who truly hasn't been ANYWHERE. I'm sure you can travel in your imagination though.

[vadawg]

21. lol definetely never dealt with foreign cops

At least in the US you have the ability to go to court and fight that ticket, most countries you pay the fine on the spot or get a beating and go to a hell hole of a jail.

[izquierdista]

23. I get along fine with foreign cops

Maybe you should try not being such an ASSHOLE when you leave the country.

[vadawg]

24. Why would i want to leave the country

Plus being on the job, i get along fine with cops here as well, im just not surprised that with your attitude you have a hard time dealing with law enforcement.

[Pavulon]

26. By taking a cab?

guess that is illegal? They pulled the cab driver, who was legit, saw me and another guy, who is from brazil and took our money. Everyone was polite about it. "just pay them, this is normal, sometimes" was the instruction from the local, so i did.

Straight up robbery.

He was out 10 and i was out 350. oh well. That shit does not happen in NYC or Seattle.

Turned that shit on an expense report too. category, other: random police fine.

[Pavulon]

25. it was 350 4 years ago.

That was all they saw in my money clip. When i get tickets here i go to court, and get them dismissed. I do not go to a Brazilian prison, Or have my teeth smashed in with the butt of a sub machine gun.

Police do not fuck around in Brazil and will leave you on the pavement if you screw with them.

[StClone]

10. Taser are safer than handguns?

[1620rock]

13. Thugs are attracted to the profession. F*ck cops.

[vadawg]

22. much safer if your the suspect

im sure the .40 cal hollowpoint has a much higher chance of killing you than the taser. makes sense if you think about it. Especially as we are trained not to just fire one round but as many as it takes to stop the suspect.

[Pastiche423]

28. Dead is Dead

Does matter how you get there. And it sure as hell doesn't matter to most cops.

[navarth]

14. I don't want to judge cops until I've had to do their job.

SURE there are a lot of asshole cops. But I've known some and they were decent people. I've known some that aren't too bright, those are the ones I worry about.