I am usually on the side of police in these stories, but if this is as described it would be hard to imagine circumstances which would justify the use of force. It is hard for me to fathom exactly what an 86 year old disabled woman could do to take an 'aggressive posture in her bed' such that it would cause a cop to fear for their safety and the safety of others. If she went for a weapon, that would be one thing, but even then you would think the officer would not have much difficulty restraining grandma without the need for the double tazer. I would wonder if the 'aggressive posture' was some sort of writhing since at that point she could not breath with the officer stepping on her oxygen tube.
http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/06/24/28330.htm (via) (bold mine)
"Police Tasered an 86-year-old disabled grandma in her bed and stepped on her oxygen hose until she couldn't breathe, after her grandson called 911 seeking medical assistance, the woman and her grandson claim in Oklahoma City Federal Court. Though the grandson said, "Don't Taze my granny!" an El Reno police officer told another cop to "Taser her!" and wrote in his police report that he did so because the old woman "took a more aggressive posture in her bed," according to the complaint.
...
The grandma, Lona Varner, "told them to get out of her apartment."
The remarkable complaint continues: "Instead, the apparent leader of the police [defendant Thomas Duran] instructed another policeman to 'Taser her!' He stated in his report that the 86 year-old plaintiff 'took a more aggressive posture in her bed,' and that he was fearful for his safety and the safety of others.
"Lonnie Tinsley told them, 'Don't taze my Granny!' to which they responded that they would Taser him; instead, they pulled him out of her apartment, took him down to the floor, handcuffed him and placed him in the back of a police car.
"The police then proceeded to approach Ms. Varner in her bed and stepped on her oxygen hose until she began to suffer oxygen deprivation.
"The police then fired a Taser at her and only one wire struck her, in the left arm; the police then fired a second Taser, striking her to the right and left of the midline of her upper chest and applied high voltage, causing burns to her chest, extreme pain and to pass out.
"The police then grabbed Ms. Varner by her forearms and jerked hands together, causing her soft flesh to tear and bleed on her bed; they then handcuffed her."
Friday, June 25, 2010
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"Cops Taze an 86 Year Old Disabled Grandmother in Her Bed
ReplyDeleteI am usually on the side of police in these stories"
Why am I reading this blog again?
@Anonymous - use of force stories; where the cop is unfairly criticized for appropriate use of force. This is not one of those stories.
ReplyDeleteEvery one of thos fools should be arrested, charged with assault on this old lady and JAILED as well as being dismissed from their so-called police force. She assumed "..a more aggressve position in bed.."? WTF kind of a moron makes a statement like that? 10 coops feared for their safety? Off to the Penitentiary with the lot of 'e,!!!
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