Man who 'shushed' trooper sues over being Tasered

[MrScorpio]

Friday, August 06, 2010

By Paula Reed Ward, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A Washington County man who was asleep in the back of a cab claims he was shocked with a Taser because he "shushed" a state trooper when the man tried to wake him.

Phillip S. Chappel, 29, of Washington, filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against the state police, as well as Trooper Jeffrey Osrodowski, claiming the officer had no reason to take aggressive action against him.

On Aug. 8, 2008, Mr. Chappel and a friend attended a pre-season Steelers football game, and then they "continued to enjoy a post game celebration."

Early the next morning, the men hired a cab to take them back to Washington, but both men fell asleep during the trip.

According to the lawsuit, the cab driver, presumably, was unable to wake them.

So, he drove them to the state police barracks on Murtland Avenue in Washington, arriving just after 2:20 a.m.

"When the trooper attempted to wake Mr. Chappel, he 'shushed' the trooper and fell back asleep," the lawsuit said.

The trooper again tried to wake him, and Mr. Chappel "shushed" him again.

At that point, the lawsuit said, Trooper Osrodowski fired his Taser at the sleeping man.



Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10218/1078016-58.stm

[petronius]

1. If that's really what the trooper wrote, he should be fired, jailed. fined, etc

What an incompetent ass!

It seems that taser use is getting (understatement of the year entry) way out of hand. Maybe we should pass a law that every department that wishes to use tasers must also have a jury of citizens to evaluate every taser use. If the citizens decide the tasering was unjustified, then the officer in question gets shocked twice. I'm guessing that's a jury service no one would dodge... :)

[NYC Liberal]

2. The man obviously posed a threat to the trained, experienced officer.

Who knows what he could have done in his sleep? It is standard procedure to taser people in this situation.

Anyone who disagrees hates cops.

[DFW]

3. Maybe the cop knew he was dreaming something dangerous n/t

[struggle4progress]

4. "He's passed out drunk! Whatever should I do? I know! I'll incapacitate him!"