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Police in FL taze 62 yr old woman in the back

Lursa

Lursa

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OK, here's IMO a genuine example of police using unnecessary force and will likely get punished for it. Just IMO I believe he deserves a brief term in jail for assault but I doubt that will happen. Currently he's on paid leave pending investigation. The police chief is interviewed on the video too.

Tallahassee cop on paid leave after tasing woman, 62 - CNN.com

There is video. The woman was walking away. It didnt look like she had been hostile to the cop. The video I saw on the news looked a little different than this so I dont know if there is more than one.

As Mahan put one arrested suspect in the back of a patrol car, Young pulled up, forcing Mahan "to take [his] focus off of one of the arrestees and engage her," Mahan said in his report.

"Young's actions obstructed officers while in the course of completing their legal duties," he wrote.

The woman was walking calmly away when she was tazed. The officer had decided to arrest her as well, for obstructing justice while they were arresting other people. So I guess he couldnt just go after her and arrest her???? Unneccessary force. Incredibly bad for the community.
 
Lursa said:
OK, here's IMO a genuine example of police using unnecessary force and will likely get punished for it. Just IMO I believe he deserves a brief term in jail for assault but I doubt that will happen. Currently he's on paid leave pending investigation. The police chief is interviewed on the video too.

Tallahassee cop on paid leave after tasing woman, 62 - CNN.com

There is video. The woman was walking away. It didnt look like she had been hostile to the cop. The video I saw on the news looked a little different than this so I dont know if there is more than one.

As Mahan put one arrested suspect in the back of a patrol car, Young pulled up, forcing Mahan "to take [his] focus off of one of the arrestees and engage her," Mahan said in his report.

"Young's actions obstructed officers while in the course of completing their legal duties," he wrote.

The woman was walking calmly away when she was tazed. The officer had decided to arrest her as well, for obstructing justice while they were arresting other people. So I guess he couldnt just go after her and arrest her???? Unneccessary force. Incredibly bad for the community.
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I can't tell what happened before he tazed her in the back (whether she was hostile or not) but it's very obvious that her back was turned to him and she wasn't a threat at that moment. I'd say the police officer is going to be in big trouble here.
 
Tazers should be outlawed.
 
tres borrachos said:
I can't tell what happened before he tazed her in the back (whether she was hostile or not) but it's very obvious that her back was turned to him and she wasn't a threat at that moment. I'd say the police officer is going to be in big trouble here.
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I saw it on TV news and it was much more up-close, almost like a different video. I wonder if there is another out there.

Interestingly, it's another case of a citizen taking the video, not a police video. It's sad but we really need to oversee police behavior for our own protection.
 
Lursa said:
I saw it on TV news and it was much more up-close, almost like a different video. I wonder if there is another out there.

Interestingly, it's another case of a citizen taking the video, not a police video. It's sad but we really need to oversee police behavior for our own protection.
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You'd think by now cops would know that smart phones are everywhere, and people can capture their actions on video, right?
 
The most disturbing thing is that the reason for the initial police contact was a "drug dealing" complaint yet no arrests were made for "drug related" offenses. To be able to arrest someone simply for them not wanting to be arrested is insane.

They all were charged with resisting an officer without violence, and Laguna Young was charged with a probation violation that Leon County Jail records indicate stems from a previous conviction on cocaine and drug paraphernalia charges.
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The video I saw he tried to grab her arm to detain her, she pulled it away and turned around to walk away, and he tazed her.

That would be considered resisting arrest, but I don't think the tazer was warranted.
 
This is shocking!
 
ttwtt78640 said:
The most disturbing thing is that the reason for the initial police contact was a "drug dealing" complaint yet no arrests were made for "drug related" offenses. To be able to arrest someone simply for them not wanting to be arrested is insane.
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I hadnt picked up on that. Interesting.

So...scenario: they went into the community, hassled some guys hanging out, and the guys got self-righteous and mouthy with the cops (even I have give cops a bunch of attitude when they've detained me improperly), and the cops got pissed off and decided to cost the taxpayers even more with a bunch of unnecessary arrests?

Nice. Speculation of course. But easily imagined. I'm not saying there wasnt a report of dealing...or that the neighborhood guys were angels. Maybe they just werent holding then. But it seems like poor community relations to me.
 
What the hell are police being taught these days? That was totally unacceptable - tazing was not necessary given the video provided. Not only should this cop be relieved of his police duties permenantly but I do hope an investigation and possible criminal charges are at least offered. The entire force where this occurred should also be required to go through a re-training program on what is and is not acceptable force and when to use it and do public outreach to this community if they want to keep their jobs. Insanity.
 
Lursa said:
I hadnt picked up on that. Interesting.

So...scenario: they went into the community, hassled some guys hanging out, and the guys got self-righteous and mouthy with the cops (even I have give cops a bunch of attitude when they've detained me improperly), and the cops got pissed off and decided to cost the taxpayers even more with a bunch of unnecessary arrests?

Nice. Speculation of course. But easily imagined. I'm not saying there wasnt a report of dealing...or that the neighborhood guys were angels. Maybe they just werent holding then. But it seems like poor community relations to me.
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That was my take as well. The police appear to have wanted to send a message to "those folks" and simply decided to hassle anyone (everyone?) at that location, being basically clueless as to who may actually be selling recreational drugs in the area. Some call this "establishing a strong police presence" and others call it a violation of basic civil rights. What seems to have been omitted is any probable cause to make an arrest - other than the "suspect" objecting to being hassled. questioned and arrested in the first place.
 
Warning these videos coarse language:


Film the police:
 
Lursa said:
OK, here's IMO a genuine example of police using unnecessary force and will likely get punished for it. Just IMO I believe he deserves a brief term in jail for assault but I doubt that will happen. Currently he's on paid leave pending investigation. The police chief is interviewed on the video too.

Tallahassee cop on paid leave after tasing woman, 62 - CNN.com

There is video. The woman was walking away. It didnt look like she had been hostile to the cop. The video I saw on the news looked a little different than this so I dont know if there is more than one.

As Mahan put one arrested suspect in the back of a patrol car, Young pulled up, forcing Mahan "to take [his] focus off of one of the arrestees and engage her," Mahan said in his report.

"Young's actions obstructed officers while in the course of completing their legal duties," he wrote.

The woman was walking calmly away when she was tazed. The officer had decided to arrest her as well, for obstructing justice while they were arresting other people. So I guess he couldnt just go after her and arrest her???? Unneccessary force. Incredibly bad for the community.
Click to expand...

The cop assaulted a woman that was not an obvious and direct threat to his safety. He needs to to be relieved of his duty IMO.
 
TeleKat said:
The cop assaulted a woman that was not an obvious and direct threat to his safety. He needs to to be relieved of his duty IMO.
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Probably should be serving a little bit of jail time for felony assault as well.
 
I noticed how he did it all slow and methodical like. SMH.
 
She was resisting arrest. And if he continued to grab her arm and she wound up with a broken arm he'd be in trouble there too. It's a lose lose situation. How was he supposed to stop her?
 
reinoe said:
She was resisting arrest. And if he continued to grab her arm and she wound up with a broken arm he'd be in trouble there too. It's a lose lose situation. How was he supposed to stop her?
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Start by walking past her until in front of her and detain her. The tazer shouldnt be used for someone calmly walking away from you.
 
reinoe said:
She was resisting arrest. And if he continued to grab her arm and she wound up with a broken arm he'd be in trouble there too. It's a lose lose situation. How was he supposed to stop her?
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He could walk a little faster, catch up to the woman and engage her face to face. Actions occuring after that depend on her reaction....resistance? Compliance? How would he know unless he extended himself the smallest bit to avoid having to taze a woman that was not a threat to him or the public?
 
I don't see the big deal here. The 41 year old son (?) was being arrested for probation violations, the mother (?) wanted to argue the point. The police warned her that now was not the time and to step away or be arrested. She didn't listen and persisted, the officers told her she was under arrest. She fled, and yes, once the police tell you you're under arrest, walking away is fleeing. She got tased. She wasn't hurt, she was stopped in her flight.
 
clownboy said:
I don't see the big deal here. The 41 year old son (?) was being arrested for probation violations, the mother (?) wanted to argue the point. The police warned her that now was not the time and to step away or be arrested. She didn't listen and persisted, the officers told her she was under arrest. She fled, and yes, once the police tell you you're under arrest, walking away is fleeing. She got tased. She wasn't hurt, she was stopped in her flight.
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I didn't know arguing with the police was against the law and warranted being detained.
 
clownboy said:
I don't see the big deal here. The 41 year old son (?) was being arrested for probation violations, the mother (?) wanted to argue the point. The police warned her that now was not the time and to step away or be arrested. She didn't listen and persisted, the officers told her she was under arrest. She fled, and yes, once the police tell you you're under arrest, walking away is fleeing. She got tased. She wasn't hurt, she was stopped in her flight.
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She did a faceplant on pavement. Where did you read she was not harmed?

Force was not needed at that point by the officer. It was completely abuse of force. I explain further in post 18.

She was no threat to him or others, yet he used a high level of force on her.

Tasers have the potential to kill...esp older people that might have heart issues. What if she had died? Would that just be "oh well, he was justified in using that level of force....bummer for her?"
 
The cops are getting tired of being used for punching bags.
The public shows them no respect.
 
Tettsuo said:
I didn't know arguing with the police was against the law and warranted being detained.
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It is when it obstructs their business. She was well warned according to the article.
 
Lursa said:
She did a faceplant on pavement. Where did you read she was not harmed?

Force was not needed at that point by the officer. It was completely abuse of force. I explain further in post 18.

She was no threat to him or others, yet he used a high level of force on her.

Tasers have the potential to kill...esp older people that might have heart issues. What if she had died? Would that just be "oh well, he was justified in using that level of force....bummer for her?"
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Tasers are not considered a "high level of force" nor was it improperly used. If you look into those deaths by taser, not only are they rare, but there are others factors involved, generally multiple tasings.
 
clownboy said:
Tasers are not considered a "high level of force" nor was it improperly used. If you look into those deaths by taser, not only are they rare, but there are others factors involved, generally multiple tasings.
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Can you please provide sources for those claims?

Tasers kill. She was shot in the back. And her age certainly qualifies as 'other factors.'

It may very well have been improperly used...this is why there is an investigation. It was certainly unnecessary. It was unnecessary use of force which is indeed one of the things that police depts, have guidelines regarding.
 
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