Officer fired after misuse of Taser

[G_j]

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050716/NEWS01/50715024/1001

Officer fired after misuse of Taser
Oakley woman shocked, thrown in jail while trying to care for neighbor's dog

By Lindsay Nash
STAFF WRITER
published: July 16, 2005 6:00 am

OAKLEY — It was 6 a.m. when Kyle Ross left her 11-year-old daughter sleeping at home to let her neighbor’s dog out five blocks down the street.

But what was supposed to be a quick walk March 18 turned into a nine-hour stay in jail after Ross says she was shocked three times by an Asheville police officer’s Taser stun gun, handcuffed and put in the back of a police car.

<snip>
“All of a sudden, he pulled out what looked like a gun,” she said. “I was frightened for my life.”

Two more officers arrived as backup and Ross was searched as she put her hands up on a nearby fence. The only thing she had with her was a set of keys to open her neighbor’s home.

With her back to police and her hands against a fence, Ross was sent to the ground by the force of Lawson’s stun gun, she said. She hit the ground as the five-second shock pulsed through her body, followed by two more shots from the Taser gun, she said.

..more..

[bennywhale]

1. Power and people don't mix. this fucking savage would have been

exterminating Jews in 1940's Germany had he been there.

How do freaks like this ever get to hold positions of such absolute power over citizens

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

7. I heard a local cop explain it this way:

The days of the military veteran that becomes a cop seem to be gone. These days, they are getting them out of the local community colleges, graduates of the criminal justice courses. A lot of these people are not too bright, not wrapped too tight and HIGHLY indoctrinated by these "cop mill" courses.

The way this veteran cop put it to me, the older guys are not too impressed. On the contrary, they are more than a little concerned. That said, the older guys can't wait to retire. Get in their twenty and get gone.

On the other hand, we have a local cop who is a Desert Storm jarhead-vet that is one of the biggest pains in the ass on the planet. So there are no absolutes.

[leftchick]

2. that is just scary

:(

[G_j]

6. DOJ grants encourage tasers etc.

http://www.ci.asheville.nc.us/council/10-12-04.htm

<snip>
The City of Asheville has been awarded a grant, in the amount of $39,765, under the Fiscal Year 2004 Local Law Enforcement Block Grants Program. A local match of $4,418 in required for a total of $44,173. The purpose of the grant program is to fund projects, allowed under the grant program, designed to reduce crime and improve public safety. We have chosen the area of improving police equipment in the area of crowd control and homeland security. The following is planned equipment purchases:



30 Taser X26E units (w/holsters) Each: $799.95 Total: $23,998.50

90 Taser replacement cartridges Each: $18.97 Total: $1,707.30

1 Package Appliqués for helmets Each: $155.00 Total: $155.00

20 Eyeglass prescription inserts Each: $70.00 Total: $1,400.00

35 V-Top shin guards Each: $85.00 Total: $2,975.00

35 Torso Protectors Each: $350.00 Total: $12,250.00

2 Pepper Ball Projectors Each: $400.00 Total: $800.00

2 40 MM Gas Projectile Units Each: $250.00 Total: $500.00

4 Training chemical certification Each: $250.00 Total: $1000.00

Estimated Freight Total: $1000.00

Grand Total: $44785.80

Pros:

The desired equipment is would allow officers to respond to all types of crowd control and homeland security issues with safety in mind.
This will contribute to the reduction of officer and citizen injury while improving the effectiveness of crowd control detachments.
Con:

Though there are many benefits to this program, the one drawback would be our financial expectation of up-keep to the equipment and replacement when needed.
City staff recommends City Council adopt (1) a resolution authorizing the City Manager to accept the grant award; and (2) to adopt the budget amendment, in the amount of $44,173, to provide for the local matching contribution.

RESOLUTION BOOK NO. 28 – PAGE 391

F. ORDINANCE NO. 3169 - BUDGET AMENDMENT TO PROVIDE MATCHING FUNDS FOR U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE GRANT TO PURCHASE POLICE EQUIPMENT FOR THE ASHEVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT

<snip>

[leftchick]

8. I hate to think it but

it sounds like they are arming the brown shirts for a crackdown in the not too distant future.

:hide:

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

12. Since Bushco couldn't give Bernie K a job, I guess they are going

to help him this way.

[Maddy McCall]

3. Glad they fired the officer.

Won't be long before tasers are history.

[DIKB]

4. I consider

use of tasers to be police brutality. It is akin to beating someone with a billy club. Yes it is "non-lethal" force, but that just leads police to abuse this now. There was no mention of how this woman was resisting or being contentious, that warranted use of the taser. Just like how little children that don't know how to play with their toys, those toys should be taken away, the same goes for police officers. Take the tasers away till these thugs stop their brutality.

[TryingToWarnYou]

14. You said it yourself... no mention

There was no mention of how this woman was resisting or being contentious, that warranted use of the taser.

Blame that on the shitty reporting rather than the officers actions.

Since no one is talking, its kind of hard to pass judgement unless you already have an opinion on the matter, right?

I get really tired of newspapers and TV that love to report the juicy stories and manage, somehow, to leave out great big chunks of the story so that everyone forms an opinion with less than a thimble full of knowledge. This thread is going to turn into another cop bashing thread anyway, so carry on.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

15. Just a wild guess, but since he was FIRED for it, a lot of people

might infer that since his boss fired him over the incident, that the police did their own investigation that might have indicated that the cop was less than prudent.

If you want news that doesn't question authority, you might try Fox.

[mikita]

5. this almost makes me physically ill ....

and especially since it is in my hometown of Asheville. I moved here because I thought this area would be more progressive. This is raw abuse of power, and it does not bode well as the divide in the nation grows.

[G_j]

10. I had talked to a reporter at the Mountain Express

about this a few months ago
this story has been brewing for a while

no matter how progressive many people in Asheville are, the Asheville gov is far from it. :-(


ot, music at Pritchard park today (Sat.): "Bonfires For Peace" starts at 1 pm, we are supposed to play at about 8 pm.

it was great to see you on the 4th! :hi:

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

9. I was reading this last night. Awful. The story here is shaking as well:

Chattanooga Chief Reinstates Officer Fired Over Use Of Stun Gun
<snip>
Campbell was fired February 23rd for using a Taser on 22-year-old Matthew Jones of Cohutta, Georgia while he was handcuffed in the parking lot of a convenience store.

Police said Jones and 26-year-old Jason McCollum of Dalton, Georgia, failed to stop for a speeding violation on September 11th and led authorities on a chase from Georgia to Tennessee.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reviewed the store security camera videotape that showed a Taser used on a handcuffed man. The video showed several unidentified officers kicking a handcuffed McCollum, the passenger, and hitting Jones.

Three other officers were disciplined in the incident.
http://www.newschannel5.com/content/region/12976.asp

I would have posted it as a thread, but I'm a bit gun shy about posting anything taser related. The taser advocates are very aggressive.

[Occulus]

20. "The taser advocates are very aggressive."

I'm beginning to think every last one of them have some sort of stake in taser. A financial stake, if you will.

I'm also beginning to think those same people aren't here to a legitimate purpose.

I'm also beginning to think those same people aren't necessarily progressives in the first place.

In fact, to be as blunt as possible, I'm beginning to think the taser advocates here are a bunch of misguided fools. Mace, pepper spray, etc, all worked very well, thank you, and to my knowledge never killed anybody. And don't some departments also have an immobilizing foam they can spray on uncooperative suspects? I know I saw a demo of such on some cop show a few years back, and I thought to myself, "cool! something they can use from a distance that doesn't harm or kill anyone."

The fact is, police did just fine prior to the taser. They don't need them now, and they never, ever did to begin with. It's little more than a fancy toy that plays into the power trip some police have, to make anyone uncooperative feel pain and maybe die. Some police get off on that, and some personality types actually become sexually aroused by it. Not all, by any me4ans, but the few that do make it dangerous to even be around police- as dangerous as it is to be a gay guy at a Konservative Kristian Konvention.

Pun definitely intended.

Yes, tasers need to go. Now. Before even one more person dies. The company that makes them needs to be class-action suerd into oblivion, and the device itself needs to be outlawed. The abuse of these things has gone too damn far.

When a kid points his BB gun at a friend, you take the gun away until the kid is responsible enough to handle the firearm. Same goes for a sling, a lawn dart, or any other sharp, pointy object. These things, these tasers, are too new of a device for police nationwide to use responsibly. They should be taken away from them, as a parent takes away an irresponsibly used toy, until firther notice.

The taser advocates here really don't like hearing that. This is because, deep down, they are coming to know that those of us who think they should not be used at all are right.

Or maybe, just maybe, it's because these aggressive taser advocates have a stake in the game.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

23. I've been pretty vocal in my opinion that the taser has been marketed

incorrectly as non-lethal.

We've seen the tapes of the tests and it (the taser) brings healthy full grown men down to a prostate position in one three second blast, but EVERY story I read, there are MULTIPLE five second shocks. The people using them apparently feel the instrument is completely harmless. I guess that's why we keep hearing of kids and elderly being shocked... The handcuffed, incarcerated and strapped to a gurney being shocked.

This is cruelty and it is a shame that so many here classify you as a "cop hater" if you question this or any other punitive course taken by law enforcement. You are absolutely right in your opinions as far as I'm concerned. The taser is a problem and the vitriol spewed against any news of its validity on a forum such as this is astounding.

[BiggJawn]

25. "A STAKE in Taser"...

Like THIS guy does?
"Everytime the TASER stings, Bernie Kerick's cash register rings"

"Buy my Product?"

[TryingToWarnYou]

38. Do you always take peoples words out of context?

As you know, Tom, I was the one that brought up the cop hater comment. I still stand by it, although its not nearly as prevalent in this thread as it was in the other.

I would appreciate it if you would refrain from claiming that I call folks cop haters "if you question this or any other punitive course taken by law enforcement." Thats simply untrue. The cop haters are the ones advocating my death, the death of other officers and the extreme vitriol (nice that I can use that word with someone that understands it)is incredible when you read it (see the thread where the child was being used as a shield and was accidentally killed). I will be the first person to condemn illegal, unlawful and unethical actions by officers as they do not represent what I swore to uphold and defend.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

29. I don't know what it is, I just posted a story on taser deaths under

medical review and a story on taser abuse with a video of a handcuffed man getting tasered and it was moved to the gungeon:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=118x109817

My guess is they don't want a ton of taser stories in the LBN front page which makes perfect sense.

Our mods do a great job here, and I'm glad we have them even when I disagree. This one's to you, guys! :toast:

[TryingToWarnYou]

37. Wow, monetary gain, racisim, and sadism..its a TRIFECTA

I'm beginning to think every last one of them have some sort of stake in taser. A financial stake, if you will.

Yeah, because cops can run around and buy meaningful levels of stock in companies on their salaries. Oh and Im beginning to think you dont know what the hell you are talking about:

http://www.azcentral.com/specials/special43/articles/0721taser21.html

I'm also beginning to think those same people aren't here to a legitimate purpose.

I dont own *any* stocks. I dont carry a Taser, nor does anyone in my department. Im just sick of the mis-information, hatred and other BS that I see here so Im chiming in to give a voice to the other side of the coin.

I'm also beginning to think those same people aren't necessarily progressives in the first place.

I dont owe you or anyone an explanation as to why Im here. You dont know me and I dont know you. Im beginning to think that people like you are here just to stir up the hate. See how that works?

In fact, to be as blunt as possible, I'm beginning to think the taser advocates here are a bunch of misguided fools. Mace, pepper spray, etc, all worked very well, thank you, and to my knowledge never killed anybody.

Well, to be blunt as possible, you sir are the fool. Not only does mace and pepper spray often fail in usage due to many different factors, not the least of which are: drug/alcohol intoxication of the subject, weather conditions, improper application, expired contaminants etc., but people have indeed died from its exposure, although rarely. I suggest instead of pontificating on shit you dont know anything about that you get a clue first, before posting.

And don't some departments also have an immobilizing foam they can spray on uncooperative suspects? I know I saw a demo of such on some cop show a few years back, and I thought to myself, "cool! something they can use from a distance that doesn't harm or kill anyone."

ROFL! We wish! What you saw, dear friend, was called a PROTOTYPE. Its probably going to be 10-15 years, if ever, before you see it actually being used by departments. I say, if ever because I can imagine someone being shot in the head with that foam..then what?

The fact is, police did just fine prior to the taser. They don't need them now, and they never, ever did to begin with.

And your extensive experience in law enforcement has led you to this grand conclusion huh? The taser, like all intermediate weapons, fills a void that desperately needs more options. I could explain the officers use of force continuum, but Im fairly certain it would be wasted on you. Again, you need to do your homework before commenting in areas you dont know anything about.

It's little more than a fancy toy that plays into the power trip some police have, to make anyone uncooperative feel pain and maybe die.

Actually, pain is a motivator. Its what is used when a subject doesnt want to cooperate and the officer has a task to perform, such as getting the subject into the back seat of his car after an arrest. If the officer is by himself, that can be difficult. Even with two officers, if you have a violent subject, it can be difficult. The proper application of force in these matters causes the subect to cooperate to avoid the pain. These techniques have been upheld by the Supreme Court time and time again. As with anything, it too can be abused and misused.

Some police get off on that, and some personality types actually become sexually aroused by it.

Please point me to the study that shows some police get off sexually on hurting people. Thanks.

Not all, by any me4ans, but the few that do make it dangerous to even be around police- as dangerous as it is to be a gay guy at a Konservative Kristian Konvention.

Pun definitely intended.

Nice hate speech totally unsupported by any facts.

Yes, tasers need to go. Now. Before even one more person dies. The company that makes them needs to be class-action suerd into oblivion, and the device itself needs to be outlawed. The abuse of these things has gone too damn far.

Rather than getting rid of the devices, which when used appropriately allow the officer and the subject a level of security and provide a way for the officer to utilize force in a non-lethal capacity, why dont we get rid of the abusive officers that use the devices inappropriately? Personal responsibility and all that...

When a kid points his BB gun at a friend, you take the gun away until the kid is responsible enough to handle the firearm. Same goes for a sling, a lawn dart, or any other sharp, pointy object. These things, these tasers, are too new of a device for police nationwide to use responsibly. They should be taken away from them, as a parent takes away an irresponsibly used toy, until firther notice.

Apples, Oranges and grossly simplistic view of a complex issue.

The taser advocates here really don't like hearing that. This is because, deep down, they are coming to know that those of us who think they should not be used at all are right.

Who are these taser advocates? I havent seen one in this thread yet.

Or maybe, just maybe, it's because these aggressive taser advocates have a stake in the game.

See my first comments.

[sojourner]

21. it's not just taser advocates - it's the whole police-as-saviors crowd

that refuse to reasonably consider anything that implies these "demi-gods" can or would ever do anything wrong. If a citizen is injured by police - it is automatically assumed that the citizen deserved it or brought it upon him/herself. And if you say otherwise, you are automatically a "cop hater". Really annoying.

[Occulus]

24. It's the same group that thinks

"if you've been accused, you must have done something wrong". We all know from which side of the aisle that attitude comes.

I'm really, honestly starting to think those persons aren't here for any legit purpose. It's happened way too many times, and they are adamant in their position, even in the face of ever-increasing evidence that they are demonstrably, fatally wrong on every score regarding this issue.

Again, we all know which group of people doesn't believe in "innocent until proven guilty". Punishing someone with death prior to trial or even prior to actual arrest is unconstiotutional, and then some. These people don't much care to hear that, and don't respond rationally when that point comes up.

Just something to consider.

[sojourner]

27. aha...seems we are on the same wavelength!

I hadn't gotten up nerve to say so...(I haven't reached the "respectable" 1000+ posts yet :-) ) -- I can't see how one can be so adamantly pro-punishment without due process, and pro-authoritarian - to the point that even discussing wrongdoings by authority (with the goal of discovering/suggesting improvement of system)is considered "unAmerican" --- unless.....

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

28. It's not post count, it's content...

Hell, if it were post count, I'd be a... Well, a heluva lot smarter than I am. :toast:

[TryingToWarnYou]

40. And the irony meter pegs a 10

"if you've been accused, you must have done something wrong". We all know from which side of the aisle that attitude comes.

Unless its a cop thats being accused (whether publicly in the news or here), then its ok to to think "if you've been accused, you must have done something wrong" It works both ways.

I'm really, honestly starting to think those persons aren't here for any legit purpose.

Whats a 'legit' purpose? Part of being progressive or independent is not likely following the mainstream thought process. Im not disagreeing with you on political issues, Im trying to bring a little pause to the thinking that the cops are the bad guys, always. Its always been a little bit of an undercurrent here and its getting worse. Those here that want to condemn officers are certainly free to do so, but all I ask is that they do it with more information than what they are given in LBN or the rumor mill. And as an officer who has never been in trouble, never abused anyone and done my job to the best of my ability for 14 years, I take offense to being lumped in with those that abuse their authority and commit crimes.

It's happened way too many times, and they are adamant in their position, even in the face of ever-increasing evidence that they are demonstrably, fatally wrong on every score regarding this issue.

I havent seen this ever increasing evidence (of what?) that you are mentioning. As for being 'wrong', I gladly admit when its me. My role in these threads is often to include information from the law enforcement perspective that might shed a little more light on an issue. Im certainly not here to defend any wrongdoer and I never have.

Again, we all know which group of people doesn't believe in "innocent until proven guilty".

Yes, its the same group that doesnt believe in it when its cop.

Punishing someone with death prior to trial or even prior to actual arrest is unconstiotutional, and then some. These people don't much care to hear that, and don't respond rationally when that point comes up.

Dont care to hear it? If you are stating the obvious, it can get rather tiring. It goes without saying that "Punishing someone with death prior to trial or even prior to actual arrest is unconstiotutional, and then some." As for not rationally responding, Ive yet to see anyone respond irrationally to these threads. What I *do* see is massive amounts of ignorance on the parts of people questioning a profession, encounter, act etc. that they dont have the slightest clue as to how it should be handled.

Just something to consider.

Indeed.

[BiggJawn]

26. I hear ya!

"Why, the po-leese wouldn't arrest ya if ya weren't GUILTY...."
Don't they call that "Nancy Grace Syndrome"?

I put one Taser-lover on ignore because their feelings about "Bernie's Buzzer" are 180 degrees opposite from who their screen name says thay are.

[TryingToWarnYou]

39. Almost as annoying as just assuming things without all the facts NT

[Branjor]

11. Throwing her in jail....

They saw her as a criminal because that is how they treated her. They did not treat her as a criminal because that is how they saw her.

[TryingToWarnYou]

13. Nice of you to leave out the really important part...

Officer Matthew Lawson arrested 48-year-old Ross on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting public officers, both misdemeanors after questioning her about a larceny in the area. She had no criminal record.

Asheville Police Chief Bill Hogan said Friday he dismissed Lawson earlier this month and dropped charges against Ross following an investigation. Hogan said Lawson did not follow department policy, which allows use of Taser guns when someone is aggressively resisting arrest.

1. The article does a piss poor job of reporting the facts.

2. They dont explain the womans actions that led up to the encounter with the officer that involved the Taser. What? So the officer just whipped out the Taser and here we are? Dont think so...more to the story.

3. I am in no way defending the actions of the officer. He was wrong and he needs to be looking at criminal charges.

[Misunderestimator]

16. If you read the whole article, it is clear that she did nothing to warrant

a taser ATTACK by the police officer. YOU underline the part about WHY it happened, AND the part about the charges being dropped. I'm confused about what point you're trying to make. He was dismissed and the charges were dropped, what "facts" do you think were left out of this story?

[TryingToWarnYou]

17. DP, sorry

double post and the other one was worded better lol

[TryingToWarnYou]

18. I read the whole article. I was referring to the poster leaving that part

out.

The OP left out the WHY and that the officer was fired, and the fact that the charges were dropped. To me, thats a very important part of the article. Nothing was left out of the article except for additional information on what led up to the confrontation.

[Misunderestimator]

19. Ah. Ok then.

I just read the whole article, so I didn't see what was or wasn't in the OP.

[G_j]

22. just included a few paragraphs, as per DU rules

it is not very difficult to click on the link and read the entire article.

[Richard Steele]

32. I think enough "Really Important Parts" are right there.

1: 3 cops vs. an unarmed 48-yo substitute teacher.

2: One cop TASERS her in the back 3 times.

3: Cop's superiors FIRE cop, drop all charges.

She was NOT "aggressively resisting", as must be directly inferred from:
"Hogan said Lawson did not follow department policy,
which allows use of Taser guns
when someone is aggressively resisting arrest.

[liberalnurse]

36. Thank God someone here

has common sense! Unfortunately, I checked in too late to share my concerns. Indeed, the article is limited and narrow in scope.

[Miss Chybil]

30. Stunning

Pun intended. They need to fire more of these Taser-happy guys. They seem to be unable to use proper judgement - a lethal flaw in a police officer.

[tblue37]

31. I'm going out on a limb here:

My guess is that the woman is Black. She was out in the wee hours of the morning--probably when it was still fairly dark. To be Black and out late at night or early in the morning is like the "DWB"--Driving While Black--"crime." It automatically makes you "suspicious."

So there was a crime in the area. To some people a Black person--even a middle-aged woman--is automatically suspect.

Several years ago two of my students, both young Black men, arrived at their apartment complex after studying at the library. They got out of their car and pulled out their backpacks. Within seconds they were face-down on the ground with guns pointed at their heads. I don't doubt that if either had made a move he would have been shot.

There had been a drive-by shooting some time earlier at the complex, while M and T were at the library, so when these kids parked their car and got out, they were imemdiately assaulted by the cops, who assumed that since they were Black they should be considered as suspects in the shooting.

One of them, M, is a cop's son, a cop's nephew, and a cop's brother. He is also, since graduating several years ago, a cop himself. When he was first in my class, at age 18, he told me he had never been harassed by police for being Black. I told him to wait. It would happen.

That Thanksgiving, he and his cousin (also a cop's son) were pulled over and harassed by cops for no reason at all (a DWB situation). When he got back from Thanksgiving break he told me about it, and he was really, really sad that it was true that being Black would get him harassed.

The incident at the apartment complex occurred two years later, when he and his roommmate were in my "Intro to Poetry" class.

The article doesn't mention whether the woman is Black, but I am willing to take bets on it. No cop would treat a middle-aged white woman that way. In fact, if a white woman were out late at night or early in the morning and a crime had been committed in the area, the cops would warn her and probably escort her home to make sure she got there safely!

If the cops had possessed Tasers when M and T were face-down in the parking lot, I guarantee they would have used them. They were both walk-ons for the football team. They were not tall, but both were very muscular. The cops would have assumed them to be dangerous and Tasered the hell out of them. You just know they would have.

And all M and T had done was pull into their own parking space after studying all evening at the library and then get out of their car with their backpacks.

Try to imagine driving home, getting out of your car, and then being knocked to the ground and having guns pointed at your head. Just try to imagine it! And if Tasers had been available. . . .

[VegasWolf]

33. That she was black was my initial take also. This happened in North

Carolina afterall.

[1monster]

35. I think you may have just put your finger on a deciding factor in this

incident.

And I know so many people who believe that racial discrimination just doesn't exist on an official level anymore.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

34. This one got moved too.

Heh. Unless Bush tasers Michael Moore on the white house lawn, I don't think Taser news is wilcommen in LBN.

[G_j]

41. Citizen-Times executive editor offers further insight into story

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050717/COLUMNISTS15/50716008/1007

Police silence helps tell the rest of the story in Taser incident in Oakley

By Robert C. Gabordi
Asheville Citizen-Times executive editor
published: July 17, 2005 6:00 am

Of course, there is usually the rest of the story, the parts that are hard for a reporter to get into print the first time around.

<snip>
Our story said all that. But what it did not say is how the newspaper learned of this incident. That alone is telling.

Police didn’t tell us until we asked about it.

Neither did Ross, who by all accounts patiently but persistently asked police only that charges against her be dropped and police take measures to protect other innocents. In other words, she was not out to stir the pot. This is no troublemaker looking for revenge, just an average citizen who knew things were not supposed to happen like this.

We had to find her; she did not come looking for us
<snip>