Follow Up: Man Tasered for Refusing to Sign Traffic Ticket
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Last night, I posted an article regarding a man in Utah, who was tasered for refusing to sign a traffic ticket. Today, while browsing CNN, I realized that they caught onto the story as well. The almost two minute video segment shows the man being tasered, and gives a quick blurb as to what happened. For more information on the story, see my article linked above. It has the entire YouTube video attached, as well as a link to a news article covering the story.
I stand by my comments from last night. I think that the cop was in the wrong. Yes, the man refused to sign his ticket. And yes, the police officer did ask the man to place his hands behind his back. However, the officer did not notify the man that he was going to fire his taser. If the officer would have given a “stop or I will shoot” warning; and the man continued to move towards his car, then the situation would have been warranted. However, that was not the case.
It is odd how the news is more concerned that the video was posted on YouTube, than they were concerned with the man and what happened to him. Now this motorist’s incident is before the public - and issues will be raised that far exceed a speeding ticket.
-Justin
4 Comments
David Lee
November 22nd, 2007
at 8:21pm
Once again you missed. Watch the video again. When the officer asked him to put his hands behind his back, he had his taser gun drawn and pointed. The motorists very clearly says “What are you doing?” as he walked away. Walking away from a pulled taser gun is not inviting yourself a few volts? The motorist was WRONG. Sometimes people have to be taught that there are consequences for their actions. HE DID NOT GET TASED FOR SPEEDING! He got tased for resisting arrest. People CANNOT choose when to abide by laws and when to obey law enforcement officers. If we take laws and authority away from our society, then we will live in chaos.
jfcapasso
November 22nd, 2007
at 9:41pm
Yes, the officer had his taser drawn. However, I still believe that when the motorist was walking away, the officer should have made his intent to use his taser clear.
I could walk towards someone with a bat, but it does not mean I am going to hit them with it. It’s a weak analogy, but I think the point is clear enough.
The officer also states at the end of the video that he warned the motorist that he was going to be tasered. That did not happen.
David Lee
November 23rd, 2007
at 8:18am
How much more intent do you need? Why would he DRAW his taser if THAT wasn’t a declaration of his intent to use it? It doesn’t matter what the officer said afterward. That was afterward and I’m sure he was pretty shaken by the ordeal too.
Look, I’m not saying that every officer should have his taser gun out and ready and should use them like their ticket book. What I’m saying is, the citizen gave him NO CHOICE. When someone defies an authority figure, he is taking authority away from that person. He is saying that he refuses to acknowledge that he has to answer to that person. This guy did that and he learned quickly that he IS accountable to this officer just as you and I would be.
John Smith
November 24th, 2007
at 3:56am
If the officer made an attempt to handcuff the man by force, though he would definitely express disagreement, I feel confident that the guy wouldn’t resist. It seemed to me the first time I saw the clip, and even still that the reason the guy was walking away from the cop was to brace himself. He was only told to, “turn around and put [his] hands behind [his] back.” He wasn’t told that the weapon was a taser. He could have very well assumed that it was a gun. Anyway, he turned his back but kept his eyes on the cop as he made distance between the officer and himself. It’s a natural reaction to a seemingly dangerous situation. If he was trying to get away he would have turned completely around and moved toward the vehicle. He didn’t though, he didn’t even keep a consistent pace. You can tell he was slowing to a stop right before he got shot with the taser.
You can tell when the officer was trying to explain to the wife why he shot the husband he himself wasn’t convinced that he chose best course of actions. I’m sorry, but unlike the student at the john kerry forum, the use of force in this situation wasn’t warranted.