Good news: Cop tasers 72-year-old great-grandmother
posted at 7:35 pm on June 9, 2009 by Allahpundit
Stage two of my plan to give our new registrants a proper Hot Air welcome. We’ve already had multiple Palin posts; the obligatory 800-comment police brutality thread is next. Then all that’s left is a post on atheism and my work here is done.
The dashcam audio’s a little hit and miss so you’re probably better off skimming the partial transcript before watching. As I’ve said before in our endless taser debates, I thought the stun gun is only to be used to subdue a perp who presents a physical threat or who can’t be subdued any other way. This huge cop was incapable of wrestling granny’s arms behind her back to slap the cuffs on? What if he tased her and she had a pacemaker? Verdict: Desk duty for six months.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: 1 2 3 … 8 Next »
Hope and Change in action!
elduende on June 9, 2009 at 7:38 PM
Don’t mess with Texas!
Ropera on June 9, 2009 at 7:40 PM
don’t forget the obligatory marijuana legalization thread!
or did i miss one of those in the last few days?
homesickamerican on June 9, 2009 at 7:40 PM
Darn Grandma had it coming! Ok.. now I’ll watch the video..
GoodBoy on June 9, 2009 at 7:41 PM
Desk duty for 6 months? He should be getting 6 months IN THE SLAMMER for assault!
wildcat84 on June 9, 2009 at 7:41 PM
Granny didn’t have a sawed off somewhere, maybe a shiv to stick in his throat?
Plain and simple, pretty much ANYONE out there can harm you; the last person you would think capable of doing so is the person who mugs you or puts a bullet in your head.
Bishop on June 9, 2009 at 7:41 PM
Eh… usually I’m for the taser-victim, but I think she was getting a little physical there.
Why didn’t he just forcefully handcuff her though?
Upstater85 on June 9, 2009 at 7:41 PM
Cops from hell. sue the cops and fire the cop.
Could have killed her. The cop was totally in the wrong. He was wrong in ordering her out of the car to begin with.
seven on June 9, 2009 at 7:41 PM
Sorry I disagree with you, this jerk should be fired asap. No ands ifs or buts, this cop is what gives Police Officers a bad name. No excuse.
Alex Martinez on June 9, 2009 at 7:42 PM
Oh, there’s also the gay marriage/polygamy post and the MegMac post (hopefully no more).
Upstater85 on June 9, 2009 at 7:42 PM
This thread sucks Allah, it should be a thread about the SCOTUS betraying the American people by ruling the fifth Amendment to the constitution unconstitutional.
doriangrey on June 9, 2009 at 7:43 PM
Why would she resist?
Bigbullets on June 9, 2009 at 7:43 PM
60 mph in a 45 mph? And she gets pulled over?
Feh. Revenue generation…
HebrewToYou on June 9, 2009 at 7:43 PM
Nuance, indeed, Allah.
While I think there’s no real reason for the officer to tase the lady, she was clearly defiant. She said ‘go ahead’ like three times when being warned she would be tased.
I did not watch this youtube clip, but I saw the coverage on FN earlier today, and they played several clips… including an interview in which she claims she never argued or resisted. That interview was before the video was released, natch. Now she doesn’t want to be interviewed.
Ugly on June 9, 2009 at 7:43 PM
Retiring already?
Will you be needing your paper & slippers in the morning master Bruce?
portlandon on June 9, 2009 at 7:43 PM
I’m suddenly reminded of Uncle Jimbo and Ned’s first rule of hinting – just shout “HE’S COMING RIGHT AT US!” and pull the trigger, regardless of whether said animal was coming at you or not.
You’re doing a great job, officer.
Good Lt on June 9, 2009 at 7:43 PM
Rinse and repeat.
Phil? Phil Connors? Is that you…?
SteveMG on June 9, 2009 at 7:44 PM
No sympathy for grandma. He probably could’ve subdued her without the taser, but meh.
cjtony97 on June 9, 2009 at 7:44 PM
Like the infamous 15 year old brat video, the lady totally deserved this. Good for the cop!
SouthernGent on June 9, 2009 at 7:45 PM
Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking.
Upstater85 on June 9, 2009 at 7:45 PM
I usually love the polibe brutality vids. But this one may be justified.
sweeper on June 9, 2009 at 7:45 PM
Not quite………….
………… You need to post a ‘Helen Thomas’ thread, then warn everyone that “inappropriate comments will not be tolerated“.
The sound of frustration and blowing gaskets all over the world will be deafening……….
…….. then your work will be done.
As far as the officer goes, maybe he needs to review “Levels of Force”…….
Seven Percent Solution on June 9, 2009 at 7:46 PM
His boss sticking up for him is even more pathetic.
infidel4life on June 9, 2009 at 7:47 PM
She’s a liar. She’s an idiot. He had no choice but to shove her away from traffic several times. Would a physical take down of the old woman have been better? Maybe, but I don’t feel much sympathy for her at all.
forest on June 9, 2009 at 7:47 PM
Any taser victim may deserve the taser, but that doesn’t mean they should or can legally be tasered.
Upstater85 on June 9, 2009 at 7:47 PM
what was she arrested for? refusing to sign the ticket? At 1:30 she says she will sign the ticket. Why didn’t he just give her the ticket then and let her sign it. Grated she was being a crusty old broad and a pain in the arse, but the whole incident could have been avoided if he had just let her sign it once she got out of her car and said she would sign it. She was a pain in the neck, but the officer could have handled it better.
ramrants on June 9, 2009 at 7:47 PM
It was probably safer to restrain her with the taser. Try to wrestle an old fart like that and she’d bruise like a banana or break her bones.
Turn up the juice.
Itchee Dryback on June 9, 2009 at 7:47 PM
TAZE HER BRO!!
right4life on June 9, 2009 at 7:47 PM
Don’t let the age of the person stopped or the reason for the stop fool you.
SPIFF1669 on June 9, 2009 at 7:48 PM
A link would make a world of difference.
MadisonConservative on June 9, 2009 at 7:48 PM
Ahem. Darwin is displeased that you’ve forgotten him.
emailnuevo on June 9, 2009 at 7:48 PM
Well, if this potential bruising was his main concern, then why was he pushing her around. No, I think he could have used his strength to stop her from moving much, then cuff her.
Upstater85 on June 9, 2009 at 7:49 PM
“Time to shake hands with Benjamin Franklin, Golden Girl!”
Terry_Dyne on June 9, 2009 at 7:49 PM
Isn’t there an oldie but a goodie about Granny speeding.
Some think they are above the law for any reason. In this case it was the “72 year old great grandma” card.
shick on June 9, 2009 at 7:50 PM
Obama speech in 3…2…1…
Obama:“…and that is why today, I have appointed a Taser Czar, lovingly known around the West Wing as the ‘Tay-Czar.’”
selias on June 9, 2009 at 7:50 PM
The cop was in the right… Period. She clearly said, “I dare ya’”, and proceeded to try and get back in her car. Plus, she’s a lying sack of it too.
ronnyraygun on June 9, 2009 at 7:50 PM
Thats the cops call. More damage could have been done trying to wrestle handcuffs on her. Being old doesn’t give you license to be an asshole when caught on a violation and given a ticket. She has to sign the ticket.
Itchee Dryback on June 9, 2009 at 7:50 PM
Glad I was drinking anything when I read this. LOL
shick on June 9, 2009 at 7:50 PM
You think canoodling with your tweeties is more important than your work here? And thanks for unleashing them on hotair. Everyone is a troll.
Blake on June 9, 2009 at 7:51 PM
What is the deal today?
Is it me or is today odd and freaking weird? And is it contagious?
upinak on June 9, 2009 at 7:51 PM
You never know what she could have been packin’ in those granny panties.
ezye on June 9, 2009 at 7:51 PM
WTF, oh wait, she must be a right wing extremist. sarc/
SHARPTOOTH on June 9, 2009 at 7:51 PM
What do you mean?
Upstater85 on June 9, 2009 at 7:51 PM
Think maybe if Granny fought back when the cop attempted to cuff her that she would be worse off? Big Cop + Lil Old Lady = Help I’ve fallen and I cant get up!
beatenbutnotbroken on June 9, 2009 at 7:52 PM
Not that I totally agree with granny being tased, she did kind of ask for it.
truetexan on June 9, 2009 at 7:53 PM
On topic, try cornering any police officer towards a busy highway. See what happens.
MadisonConservative on June 9, 2009 at 7:53 PM
Push?
Upstater85 on June 9, 2009 at 7:54 PM
she should have followed orders.
cue the obligatory ‘I’ve always been nice to cops and they’ve never given me a hard time’ posts.
I just want to know if they really take the ‘protect and serve’ motto seriously. This lady would have been fine if she wasn’t assaulted by this cop. The cop becomes the thing we need protection from.
60 in a 45 and he thought she needed to be arrested and she needed to be tased. Seriously? We don’t need officers that do this.
Just today a Chinese takeout delivery guy was shot in a bad area of town. . . a KNOWN bad area of town. The request? More cops please. The point. . . cops don’t put themselves in danger to ‘protect and serve’. Cops are afraid to go there. . . but they aren’t afraid to tase grandma in the name of ‘protect and serve’.
ThackerAgency on June 9, 2009 at 7:54 PM
Just a off weird day.
upinak on June 9, 2009 at 7:54 PM
Just read this:
“I’m not going to sign it, go ahead and take me to jail, go ahead and take me to jail,” Winkfein can be heard telling the deputy in the video.
At that point, Bieze informed her if she doesn’t sign, he will have to take her to jail, which is standard policy. He then opened her door and asked her to move to the rear of the vehicle. Once out of the vehicle, Winkfein agrees to sign the ticket. She uses profanity in doing so.
Yeah- she deserved it. She wouldn’t comply and if he had tackled her to take her down, we would be seeing a video of an officer tackling an old lady. Besides, he told her 5 times she was going to get the taz. She didn’t leave him much choice.
ramrants on June 9, 2009 at 7:55 PM
I didn’t see it that way at all, but it makes no difference. Get it over with as soon and safely as possible. Turn up the juice.
“Why was he pushing her around”?
Why didn’t she just sign the damn ticket?
Itchee Dryback on June 9, 2009 at 7:56 PM
Obama:“…and that is why today, I have appointed a Taser Czar, lovingly known around the West Wing as the ‘Tay-Czar.’”
selias on June 9, 2009 at 7:50 PM
awsome lol………
SHARPTOOTH on June 9, 2009 at 7:56 PM
It has been a strange day Upinak. It’s something in the Air I think. So far we’ve seen Republicans turn on eachother, The nation sinks further into Obama’s slumber, and a my neighbors tree fell over and crushed my wife’s car sitting in our driveway.
portlandon on June 9, 2009 at 7:56 PM
so…he only tazed her once??
dont taze me bro on June 9, 2009 at 7:56 PM
Sorry, but pulling the “I dare you!” stuff while trying to play the granny card is too much. The cop acted reasonably. Acting like a fool and endangering herself and the officer on the side of a highway soaks up all the sympathy. And, as mentioned earlier, she’s a huge liar.
emailnuevo on June 9, 2009 at 7:57 PM
One, anyone of any age can have a pacemaker. Two, it takes stronger electrical shocks than a taser to screw up a pacemaker. I am sure there are claims that it does, but it is the usual suspects of plaintiff lawyers who are claiming it.
Blake on June 9, 2009 at 7:57 PM
All you fine folks that think there was reasonable cause to taze granny are douche bags and ought to try being tazed yourself at some point. The tazer, no knock warrants, and the SWAT team are not your friends people.
kkaneff79 on June 9, 2009 at 7:58 PM
She’s obviously a goon making the assumption that she’s somehow above the law because of her age… and then has no problems at all lying about the situation.
However, I would like to know what procedure is. Really, we need to pull the taser in EVERY situation where someone isn’t compliant? Every drunk, every loudmouth, every stupid old lady and every wise-ass kid? Because if you’re pulling your taser here, you must be doing that all damn day long.
There’s no training that will help our officers deal with a loudmouth old hag that doesn’t involve tasing her to the ground? Because if that’s true, I’m thinking we need to revisit what training is about these days.
12thMonkey on June 9, 2009 at 7:58 PM
“Tay-Czar”! sellas… Good One. I bow to your quick wit and wisdom.
ronnyraygun on June 9, 2009 at 7:58 PM
Supreme Court Clears Way for Chrysler’s Sale to Fiat
doriangrey on June 9, 2009 at 8:00 PM
So Fox has good loooking anchorettes on the local level also, I thought it was only here Houston, but obviously Austin as well. Here’s to seeing Kerri Bellacosa on FOXNEWS soon!
youngO on June 9, 2009 at 8:00 PM
No, the appropriate course of action was clearly to let the old lady argue and swear her way into oncoming highway traffic.
emailnuevo on June 9, 2009 at 8:00 PM
Good thing that big tough cop didn’t do that to my mother. She’d get up and push his fat ass into traffic!
TheBigOldDog on June 9, 2009 at 8:00 PM
There was open registration…
Upstater85 on June 9, 2009 at 8:00 PM
Actually, I don’t mind that he was pushing her a little. The point is, he could have subdued her quicker and without the JUICE.
Upstater85 on June 9, 2009 at 8:01 PM
Bad choice by the cop. It seems to me he could have easily manhandled the combative lady into a pair of cuffs and then the back of his cruiser.
makewi on June 9, 2009 at 8:01 PM
I am not a fan of people smart assing cops. The elderly are treated with respect out of deference to their maturity and knowledge. Being 72 and cantankerous is funny and endearing. Being 72 and a punk just gets you tasered. I hope she loses her lawsuit, and learned her lesson.
Rode Werk on June 9, 2009 at 8:02 PM
Generalize much?
Itchee Dryback on June 9, 2009 at 8:02 PM
Yep. She was, quite literally, asking for it. Somebody’s granny should bake him a apple pie to make him feel better.
Pablo on June 9, 2009 at 8:03 PM
Couldn’t agree more. She probably should have been hauled in, but how hard would it be to arrest her without any technology accept your two hands?
Upstater85 on June 9, 2009 at 8:03 PM
Everybody’s under great financial stress and this A-hole is put pulling over old ladies doing 60 on an Interstate to make a little scratch for the county to pay his generous salary, benefits and pension.
TheBigOldDog on June 9, 2009 at 8:04 PM
Hey, if a 250 lb cop needs a tazer to deal with a 73 year old woman and that’s your argument….
kkaneff79 on June 9, 2009 at 8:04 PM
Yes.
He shouldn’t be fired, but maybe they need a brush up on “This is what you do without your tasergun” lesson.
Upstater85 on June 9, 2009 at 8:04 PM
TAZE EM ALL…
right4life on June 9, 2009 at 8:05 PM
I doubt it. Actually tazing her seems to be the right course of action with an fragile person.
Itchee Dryback on June 9, 2009 at 8:05 PM
Alah, you mustn’t assume that all new registrants are new to the site. Many of us have been lurking for a long time and have been waiting for you to open the gates to let us in. Thanks!
glennbo on June 9, 2009 at 8:05 PM
As a new “douche bag” to HotAir. The lady had it coming. She was warned many times. When the men in blue pull you over, they are in control, period. She not only didn’t follow orders, she was trying to push her way (and him with her) back into traffic. Anybody have stats on how many cops die on the side of the road? This video should go national to save cops lives! Take your ticket and shut your mouth. He did nothing wrong.
DStevens on June 9, 2009 at 8:05 PM
Not to an unreasonable level. Each of the methods/tools I mentioned are corrosive liberty. Why a police department needs to be outfitted like an infantry division is beyond me, as is the notion that cops can bust into your house at 3am. And tazing people who refuse to sign a speeding ticket??? You’re defending this?
kkaneff79 on June 9, 2009 at 8:05 PM
Then he shouldn’t push her?
Upstater85 on June 9, 2009 at 8:06 PM
Holy COW… insurance my friend.. and buy a new ford!
I am not talking just OR. It is just everywhere today. Weirdness.
upinak on June 9, 2009 at 8:06 PM
I’m just about always on the side of law and order, and there’s no question granny should have just been peaceable and signed the ticket here, instead of arguing with the officer.
That said, are we supposed to believe that this situation really couldn’t be controlled without the taser?
Come on. How did the cops handle recalcitrant grannies all those years before they had tasers? I don’t remember hearing about any rashes of cops being overpowered by old ladies and left, bruised and groaning, by the side of the road.
Seems like maybe the taser has become a substitute for brains, tact, and alertness.
J.E. Dyer on June 9, 2009 at 8:06 PM
And let Sotomayor sort ‘em out?
TheBigOldDog on June 9, 2009 at 8:06 PM
You are aware of the concept of laws, right?
apollyonbob on June 9, 2009 at 8:06 PM
Yes it’s you. Your odd and freaking weird.
:)
Couldn’t resist.
shick on June 9, 2009 at 8:06 PM
So if a senior citizen makes things “complicated”, it’s OK to fire on Grandma? The officer had her license, he had the info on the ticket, he had her ON FILM refusing to sign the ticket. What else did he really need? Hand her a copy of the ticket and say goodbye.
Nope, the “big man” needed to fire not only on a woman,but an old woman. Pathetic.
Jeff from WI on June 9, 2009 at 8:06 PM
I can only imagine if I were this woman’s grandson. Sonny, she would tell me. If you ever get pulled over by the law be as uncooperative with them as you can. They have no authority to keep you off the highway or issue you citations — under any circumstances. Be rebellious and force them to taze you. You can hire an expensive lawyer from Austin and get a bunch of money to buy you a new SuperSized PickUp Truck.
wonk-a-donk on June 9, 2009 at 8:07 PM
Hope you get out of your funk :/
Upstater85 on June 9, 2009 at 8:07 PM
it is the Alaskan in me.
upinak on June 9, 2009 at 8:07 PM
Because Michelle will fire you for overworking the topic?
(kidding!)
itsnotaboutme on June 9, 2009 at 8:08 PM
You don’t know that to be true…it just seems that way to you imo.
Wrestling with her could have easily have caused her much more damage, or the possibility of the cat and mouse game having her step out into traffic.
Screw that.
Itchee Dryback on June 9, 2009 at 8:08 PM
Really? PERIOD. That’s it? You have no rights? No due process? Nothing? I think not. A speeding ticket doesn’t qualify for tazer use. In case you’re unware, there’s been a spat of deaths related to tazer usage.
kkaneff79 on June 9, 2009 at 8:08 PM
Probably not just the taser.
But hey, one argument is that he didn’t want to break her bones… that’s why he pushed her (which was fine) and tased her to the ground.
Upstater85 on June 9, 2009 at 8:08 PM
I hope his own Mother or Grandmother sees this and takes a switch to his backside. Clearly the failed to raise him right if he’s willing to push around and electrocute old ladies on the side of the road because he can get away with it.
TheBigOldDog on June 9, 2009 at 8:08 PM
My point was and is that the lady acted like an idiot on a “notoriously dangerous” stretch of highway and refused to comply with basic procedures. “I won’t sign the ticket!”, I dare you to taze me!”, etc. She acted like the law shouldn’t apply to her, pulling out the good ol’ discrimination/victim card, and when the cop twice called her bluff – on the ticket and on the tazer – she got upset.
I guarantee that if the cop had tackled her and (as would be likely) injured her, or if something had happened to her because she was dumb enough to endanger herself on a highway, everyone would be out for the cop’s blood, and rightly so. In this situation the cop made the right call.
emailnuevo on June 9, 2009 at 8:08 PM
It all comes down to the problem that many cops see themselves as “US” and the citizenry as “THEM” — Most people have never been on the unpleasant receiving end of that mindset.
infidel4life on June 9, 2009 at 8:09 PM
What I want to know is, did she take the cigarette out of her mouth before she told the cop to kiss her ass?
jaime on June 9, 2009 at 8:10 PM
HE DID WRESTLE/PUSH HER
Did you see how big he is compared to her? He just has to give he a big hug, and cuff her.
Upstater85 on June 9, 2009 at 8:10 PM
No… their not. If you’re a two-bit crook looking to break the law. Sounds like you’ve been tazed before. Did you piss in your pants? I hear it’s pretty common.
ronnyraygun on June 9, 2009 at 8:10 PM
Loved it. I think she had it coming. and if she would just follow instructions..simple instructions, there would be no probs.
As far as forcefully cuffing her.Woman is 70 years old..putting up a fight…would have caused mroe damage to herself.
Phasers on granny stunn..
Right call.
Handel on June 9, 2009 at 8:10 PM
Comment pages: 1 2 3 … 8 Next »