Ranger zaps off-leash dog walker with shock weapon

Link

A Montara man walking two lapdogs off leash was hit with an electric-shock gun by a National Park Service ranger after allegedly giving a false name and trying to walk away, authorities said Monday.

The park ranger encountered Gary Hesterberg with his two small dogs Sunday afternoon at Rancho Corral de Tierra, which was recently incorporated into the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, said Howard Levitt, a spokesman for the park service.

Hesterberg, who said he didn't have identification with him, allegedly gave the ranger a false name, Levitt said.

The ranger, who wasn't identified, asked Hesterberg to remain at the scene, Levitt said. He tried several times to leave, and finally the ranger "pursued him a little bit and she did deploy her" electric-shock weapon, Levitt said. "That did stop him."

"It was really scary," said Michelle Babcock, who said she had seen the incident as she and her husband were walking their two border collies. "I just felt so bad for him."

Click to expand...

You know, whether this guy was lying or not, this is clearly an excessive use of force. I think the ranger should go through tasering for a solid 10 minutes for this.

American said:

Link

You know, whether this guy was lying or not, this is clearly an excessive use of force. I think the ranger should go through tasering for a solid 10 minutes for this.

Click to expand...

Well, it does seem excessive. But what should she have done to detain him? Or should she have just let him go? We are a nation that lives by the rule of law. If a copper detains you, you listen. If you don't? Well, I guess sometimes you get tazed. No sympathy here.

MaggieD said:

Well, it does seem excessive. But what should she have done to detain him? Or should she have just let him go? We are a nation that lives by the rule of law. If a copper detains you, you listen. If you don't? Well, I guess sometimes you get tazed. No sympathy here.

Click to expand...

According to the article, the officer should have let the man know WHY he was being detained.

TheNextEra said:

According to the article, the officer should have let the man know WHY he was being detained.

Click to expand...

Why always works for me. If someone just says stop!, and then fails to tell me anything more about the situation, I tend to get annoyed, and FAST. Especially if I'm not doing anything obviously wrong.


Imagine...out for a stroll, and a cop runs up, yells stop, then says wait here...and starts walking away....

TheNextEra said:

According to the article, the officer should have let the man know WHY he was being detained.

Click to expand...

Well, I don't know, Next. For me? Saying "Because I said so," would've been enough. Never argue with coppers in the street. That's what courts are for.

Agreed. Annoyed or not...even if the cop starts walking away...once I start to move again, and the cop turns and repeats the command, or offers pursuit....well, it's stop or be detained. Nightstick, taze, tackle...all the choices are pretty bad.

MaggieD said:

Well, I don't know, Next. For me? Saying "Because I said so," would've been enough. Never argue with coppers in the street. That's what courts are for.

Click to expand...

although i'm thinking this cop went overboard and should be disciplined.

MaggieD said:

Well, I don't know, Next. For me? Saying "Because I said so," would've been enough. Never argue with coppers in the street. That's what courts are for.

Click to expand...

Perhaps, but as much as it is about citizens respecting the law and the officers, it is also about the ranger respecting the law and it's citizens as well. Two way street and in this instance the ranger failed as much as the man. I would wager heavily that the man is going to get an apology and the ranger is going to get reprimanded or fired.

Tazers are for use in self defense against people with no weapon. They are not for forcing compliance through pain. It is not OK to torture people via pain to get your way even if some tart says you have more social wieght than others.

For all we know there could be many other number of reasons why the taze happend beside her excuse. These boot strappers need to realize that certian individuals can die from being shocked. Or even be affected for life due to a horrible landing when falling. He should have activated his Chi to over 9000 and back-blown up her tazer. I can imagine,so clearly, these "lose, rampaging dogs" cocking their heads and not protecting the owner as their tongues lull.

MaggieD said:

Well, I don't know, Next. For me? Saying "Because I said so," would've been enough. Never argue with coppers in the street. That's what courts are for.

Click to expand...

"Because I said so" is not a good reason.

TheNextEra said:

Perhaps, but as much as it is about citizens respecting the law and the officers, it is also about the ranger respecting the law and it's citizens as well. Two way street and in this instance the ranger failed as much as the man. I would wager heavily that the man is going to get an apology and the ranger is going to get reprimanded or fired.

Click to expand...

Ranger "failing" gets a reprimand and has to make a public apology. Man on the street "failing" gets tazed. Really, the lesson here is to obey an officer on the scene. If you're wronged, then take it up in the courtroom. A citizen cannot win in the street. Period.

Im going to laugh when one day one of these tazers abuses their power. And some dude rips off the taze prongs and bitch slaps the fascist in self defense. (aka they put the tazer down and leave him alone)

MaggieD said:

Ranger "failing" gets a reprimand and has to make a public apology. Man on the street "failing" gets tazed. Really, the lesson here is to obey an officer on the scene. If you're wronged, then take it up in the courtroom. A citizen cannot win in the street. Period.

Click to expand...

sad but true. i wonder what the whole story is?

MaggieD said:

Ranger "failing" gets a reprimand and has to make a public apology. Man on the street "failing" gets tazed. Really, the lesson here is to obey an officer on the scene. If you're wronged, then take it up in the courtroom. A citizen cannot win in the street. Period.

Click to expand...

Man on the street obeying an officer get's time wasted and his rights violated. Man on the street not obeying a disrespectful officer get's time wasted, his right's violated, get's tazed, and then comes back and sues the police department for millions and wins.

I'll gladly take the lottery ticket of an abusive right's violating cop over being a sheep thank you.

liblady said:

sad but true. i wonder what the whole story is?

Click to expand...

Smartest thing I've heard all day! Headlines are never twisted around a little,,hah!

Your Star said:

"Because I said so" is not a good reason.

Click to expand...

If it's a copper saying it, it's good enough for me. It was good enough when my dad said it, too. Mom? Not-so-much.

Q: Under what circumstances can I be detained by a police officer?

A: A detention is a legal term that is something less than an arrest. A police officer can detain you to conduct an investigation to see whether further criminal activity is afoot.

Q: How long can I be detained without being arrested?

A: A police officer has the right to detain you long enough to see whether probably cause exists to arrest you.

Q: Do I have to identify myself to the police?

A: The legal answer is no. The truth of the matter is on the street if you don’t identify yourself to a police officer who asks you’re probably going to be detained.

Click to expand...

He probably answered "Mickey Mouse" when she asked his name. Why do people have to be such smart asses? Just let the officer do her job, for God's sake. They're your next-door neighbors...your kids friends' parents...

I'm pro-Taze. Pretty much any excuse is fine; zap those bastards.

MaggieD said:

Well, it does seem excessive. But what should she have done to detain him? Or should she have just let him go? We are a nation that lives by the rule of law. If a copper detains you, you listen. If you don't? Well, I guess sometimes you get tazed. No sympathy here.

Click to expand...

As far as I can tell from the article, she had no authority to detain him. Lacking any stated basis for detaining him, her actions amount to kidnapping and assault. Having a badge does not (or at least should not) put one above the law. She ought to go to jail.

Bob Blaylock said:

As far as I can tell from the article, she had no authority to detain him. Lacking any stated basis for detaining him, her actions amount to kidnapping and assault. Having a badge does not (or at least should not) put one above the law. She ought to go to jail.

Click to expand...

That's ridiculous.

Q: Under what circumstances can I be detained by a police officer?

A: A detention is a legal term that is something less than an arrest. A police officer can detain you to conduct an investigation to see whether further criminal activity is afoot.

Q: How long can I be detained without being arrested?

A: A police officer has the right to detain you long enough to see whether probably cause exists to arrest you.

Q: Do I have to identify myself to the police?

A: The legal answer is no. The truth of the matter is on the street if you don’t identify yourself to a police officer who asks you’re probably going to be detained.

Click to expand...

MaggieD said:

If it's a copper saying it, it's good enough for me. It was good enough when my dad said it, too. Mom? Not-so-much.



He probably answered "Mickey Mouse" when she asked his name. Why do people have to be such smart asses? Just let the officer do her job, for God's sake. They're your next-door neighbors...your kids friends' parents...

Click to expand...

No it's not, if the cop wants to stop me, they better have a damn good reason too. And why are you assuming the person who got tazzed was being an ass? You've got no evidence to make that claim. And from the article, the officer had no reason to detain him other than he was walking, and that's not a reason.

MaggieD said:

If it's a copper saying it, it's good enough for me. It was good enough when my dad said it, too. Mom? Not-so-much.



He probably answered "Mickey Mouse" when she asked his name. Why do people have to be such smart asses? Just let the officer do her job, for God's sake. They're your next-door neighbors...your kids friends' parents...

Click to expand...

Everyone isn't you though. I try to always do the right thing. (I've given back things I've stolen and flat out admitted lies due to guilt)

One time I went to a store and a friend of mine stole from the hobby store. I felt so bad I went back later and compensated the owner and told him the downlow. (although I wouldnt be the type to get my friend in trouble)

I do try to do what I think is right over what people command me to do. As a matter of fact, if someone commands me to do something most of the carbon in me screams, "DISOBEY!!!"

Im not gloating. Im just telling you why I wouldnt listen to a cops orders if I thought they where wrong.

I remember one time I came home from a loooooooooong day at work. I drove up and a cop had someone pulled over right in the center of the street. Pulled over 2 mean looking mexicans, pointing the guns? A scared looking white dude and lady. They stood there blocking my parking entrance for a LONG time. The cops never once approached the car. Cops started looking at me like, "What in the hell is this guys problem. We have guns pointed in his general direction."

They just stood there pointing there guns at these 2 mexicans for a very, very long time. I finally got fed up and just slowly drove past. Even the mexicans where looking at me funny. I just put on the stupidest, cheese smile I could muster. Then when I got to the cops I drew a look of frustration upon my face then started looking for spot.

I look behind me and lo and behold. The situation appears to be diffused and the cops are talking to the mexicans with their weapons holstered.

/personal rant off


tl:dr
I DONT GIVE A **** (also im dumb). Cops are people and they do dumb, assholish things all the time. Dont be scared to face it. If a cop commands you to put a sack of coke in your pocket will you listen?

Your Star said:

No it's not, if the cop wants to stop me, they better have a damn good reason too. And why are you assuming the person who got tazzed was being an ass? You've got no evidence to make that claim.

Click to expand...

Refusing to give your name to a police officer = ASS.

I wish you well on the street with your thought that you have to agree with the copper that it's a good reason in order for him to legally detain you.

dirtpoorchris said:

Everyone isn't you though. I try to always do the right thing. (I've given back things I've stolen and flat out admitted lies due to guilt) As a matter of fact, if someone commands me to do something most of the carbon in me screams, "DISOBEY!!!"

Click to expand...

I love that line!!! And I think it's true of most people who question police authority. Funny. My what you might describe as "passive ways" have served me well. Never been arrrested. Usually don't get ticketed when I get stopped though I've deserved them. The few incidents I have with LEO have been courteous and pleasant...with me feeling that they were protecting me, my neighborhood, and those who live in it.

MaggieD said:

Well, it does seem excessive. But what should she have done to detain him? Or should she have just let him go? We are a nation that lives by the rule of law. If a copper detains you, you listen. If you don't? Well, I guess sometimes you get tazed. No sympathy here.

Click to expand...

We managed to detain people before the invention of tasers.

MaggieD said:

Refusing to give your name to a police officer = ASS.

I wish you well on the street with your thought that you have to agree with the copper that it's a good reason in order for him to legally detain you.

Click to expand...

Not really. And I'm not saying I have to agree with it, I'm saying if someone does nothing wrong, and a cop tries to detain them anyway, that is ****ed up. And an abuse of power.

If you've ever been hit with a taser you'd be a fountain of information. I'd tell them my credit card number to not get lit up. They over use those things but it's still better than a .40SW to the knee cap.