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
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Official mandatory orientation! All newly fledged commentors need to view linked video.
sonnyspats1 on June 9, 2009 at 10:35 PM
Regurgitating quotes from the founding fathers while simultaneously calling everyone who disagrees with you a Nazi? I think I characterized it brilliantly.
emailnuevo on June 9, 2009 at 10:35 PM
Bravo Allah, not even Solomon could rule satisfactorily on this gem.
All that is lacking is granny wearing a head scarf and ululating instead of screaming.
BL@KBIRD on June 9, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Maybe because you’re being dogmatic rather than honest. And, rather than admitting others can see each situation and analyze them based on the merits, it’s easier for you to assume an “us Vs them” mentality. If an Officer is being criticized, the person must be anti-cop, right? When, in reality, many of us are just anti-bad cop.
TheBigOldDog on June 9, 2009 at 10:37 PM
Don’t get yourself into such a twist dude.
we don’t hate all of you guys, why some of
my best friends are lowlife citizens.
ac1 on June 9, 2009 at 10:37 PM
Jetboy is a homo so I’d bet it isn’t jet fuel.
csdeven on June 9, 2009 at 10:38 PM
The last time I saw a law enforcement official shove an old woman, and then torture her, it was a documentary on the SS.
Jeff from WI on June 9, 2009 at 10:39 PM
Hmm think she deserved it?
NYflack on June 9, 2009 at 10:39 PM
He’s a friggin Jets fan. That should tell you all you really need to know. ;)
TheBigOldDog on June 9, 2009 at 10:39 PM
I am being so honest that my soul hurts from the effort. The rhetoric on this thread is so insanely inflamed that you cannot seriously think that an us vs. them mentality isn’t on display here. (I’m sorry, but “Gestapo thug”? You really think that that’s just “anti-bad cop”?) I have repeatedly said that it’s a case by case thing, and I don’t think this is worthy of the “bad cop” designation.
emailnuevo on June 9, 2009 at 10:40 PM
My neighbors are probably awake now and wondering why hysterical laughter is shaking their walls.
emailnuevo on June 9, 2009 at 10:40 PM
Assuming I’m an officer? Rather presumptuous don’t you think?
It’s obvious that nobody is going to change your mind; but keep us updated when you decide to resist arrest, okay.
darclon on June 9, 2009 at 10:41 PM
Either you have rather suddenly developed a sense of humor or … … well, we won’t go into that.
MB4 on June 9, 2009 at 10:41 PM
More of the “risking our lives!” (keep us from going home to our families!) BS. Police work is safer than construction work, aviation, electrical work, cab drivers, salesmen, even pizza delivery men, and I’m sure a number of other commonplace occupations. Yet I never hear that justification from anyone but police officers.
Electrocuting an old woman is inexcusable. The woman was treated worse than the detainees at Gitmo. If the officer cannot handle an old woman without resorting to his taser, he needs a new line of work, period.
brogers on June 9, 2009 at 10:41 PM
It’s a Maine Trooper but that’s beside the point.
I remember when they showed that vid at the Academy. At 23, as a brand new police recruit, I really admired the guy’s patience. Now, with 9 or so years under my belt, I still admire his patience (and love his condescending tone) but I also see how he put himself in a potentially bad situation by allowing the guy to step out of the vehicle with traffic passing like that. Also, when he grabbed the ticket book or whatnot from the cop – that’s more than likely an arrest in my book. Thou shalt not touch an officer like that, bubba. ;)
Lastly, someone like that gets a ticket for everything – no warnings for you when you’re an azzhole. Respect begets respect – and breaks.
Here’s the vid in question for everyone who has no idea what we’re talking about. This should get you 100 more comments itself, AP! :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyHMbHHtArE
Bonus quote: “There is hope.” The guy’s a Democrat – who’d have thunk it with a display like that towards law enforcement! AHAHAHAHAHA
RedNewEnglander on June 9, 2009 at 10:42 PM
Bwahahahahaha…..
“Don’t taz me whippersnapper!”
The bitchy old coot got exactly what she deserved.
csdeven on June 9, 2009 at 10:43 PM
Simple, straightforward, and 100% true. Study these words
and move on.
ac1 on June 9, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Yes I can. Think man… Think…. The United States is heading at breakneck speed right straight into a full on bloody civil war. Who do you think the very first causalities are going to be? That’s right, they are going to be cops, and it’s going to be because a$$hole cops like this one did senselessly stupid and abusive things like this.
And once the violence starts it isnt going to stop for the exact same reason that this idiot tazered an unarmed 72 year old woman, because most cops cant back down or admit they were wrong.
Not all cops are worthless Gestapo thugs, but enough of them are that the violence that is coming is unavoidable and it will be a horrible and senseless waste of life.
doriangrey on June 9, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Bwahahahahaha….
Gimme a “J”….
csdeven on June 9, 2009 at 10:44 PM
This *may* have something to do with “them” doing things that would keep “us” from going home to our families ever again but, hell, what’s that matter, right?
More of the “risking our lives!” (keep us from going home to our families!) BS. Police work is safer than construction work, aviation, electrical work, cab drivers, salesmen, even pizza delivery men, and I’m sure a number of other commonplace occupations. Yet I never hear that justification from anyone but police officers.
Is “potentially being murdered” part of the normal day-to-day job description for any other professions you have mentioned?
Snipped the rest since there’s really nothing else to say after that bit o’ smackdown.
RedNewEnglander on June 9, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Someone hasn’t read my posts. :_(
RedNewEnglander on June 9, 2009 at 10:46 PM
Come on now, Jetboy’s got the Old Lady with an Uzi under her blouse…
Any cop that pushes and tazers a 72 years old upset woman because she was going 15 mph over a temporary speed limit isn’t a good cop. At the very least, he isn’t good at his job. He’s not a professional. He does not have control over his own emotions. He allowed the situation to get out of control (if you’ve dealt with old people, especially old ones, you know how easy that can happen). Anybody with a little calm understanding could have easily defused the situation but he didn’t even make the slightest effort to do so, did he. Ask yourself why. What is going on with this man that he would not only let that happen but actually go to the point of electrocuting a 72 years old woman on the side of the road.
TheBigOldDog on June 9, 2009 at 10:46 PM
Thanks, glad somebody caught that one.
ac1 on June 9, 2009 at 10:46 PM
The last time I saw a law enforcement official shove an old woman, and then torture her, it was a documentary on the SS.
Jeff from WI on June 9, 2009 at 10:39 PM
RedNewEnglander on June 9, 2009 at 10:47 PM
Sometimes even too much to drink is never enough.
- Mark Twain
Especially when arguing with those who would defend that sorry example of a police officer.
MB4 on June 9, 2009 at 10:48 PM
Oh dear god…
doriangrey on June 9, 2009 at 10:48 PM
Yeah I know, like talking to a wall, if they had read your
posts, and may I add mine as well, they would know that cops
are never wrong.
We decide how wrong you are, wrong enough to die punk.
I think that was in Dirty Harry 3
ac1 on June 9, 2009 at 10:49 PM
No, someone did read your posts and found them repulsive.
doriangrey on June 9, 2009 at 10:50 PM
This. Soooo much this.
RedNewEnglander on June 9, 2009 at 10:50 PM
Fatality rates are higher. Police work is significantly safer…
brogers on June 9, 2009 at 10:51 PM
You’re out! You moved! You’re out!
Everybody, Jimmies out! He moved! Jimmy’s out!
No! No! I saw him move. He’s out!
Jimmy, you’re out. No! You’re out.
Okay then, I’m not playing any more.
That’s the real world version of “Godwin” and his rule. Children in the schoolyard trying to get people out of the game.
TheBigOldDog on June 9, 2009 at 10:52 PM
I guess my original comment was too foul, so I’ll cut out the bad parts.
“Don’t taz me whippersnapper!”
Still, she was way out of line and the officer probably saved her a broken arm by not forcing her arms behind her back.
And comparing the Maine cop video to this one is a bad comparison. the guy from Maine never touched to officer.
csdeven on June 9, 2009 at 10:54 PM
It would be legitimate to kick out people whose idea of an original thought is to say “You know, that guy’s a lot like a Nazi.” He’s not even the Soup Nazi.
emailnuevo on June 9, 2009 at 10:55 PM
The problem is you see everyone as “them” — not just the perps, and then too many law-abiding citizens get treated like “them.”
Yes, this sometimes happens with some officers. Some control this better than others. I like to think I do. It’s probably part of the reason I’m a supervisor, too.
My respect, or lack thereof, for LEOs is directly proportional to the amount of respect they have for the laws they have sworn to uphold. You disrespect the law far more than the average citizen by holding yourself above it, and us.
I’m guessing you have a point or example but. . .
It’s too bad that these threads devolve into the same superiority crap you assh@ts dish out on the street. Go hang out with your cop buddies and tell yourselves how much better you are than the rest of us, I’m sure you need the ego boost after being around all of us lowlife citizens in this thread.
Damn, almost a thoughtful post by you.
Soooo close, so close.
RedNewEnglander on June 9, 2009 at 10:56 PM
If by close you mean he described you to a tee, then ya.
doriangrey on June 9, 2009 at 10:58 PM
Again, you give little or no weight to the psychological impact of knowing, in the back of your mind, that you might be murdered every day you go to “work” and the steps you have to take in order to prevent that from happening.
For proof of this, see police suicide rates compared to any other profession, not just the ones you mentioned.
Add that to your equation, mull it over, and post again.
RedNewEnglander on June 9, 2009 at 10:59 PM
Well, for some reason dentists are usually the highest on that particular list. I wouldn’t describe that as a dangerous profession though…
darclon on June 9, 2009 at 11:02 PM
Officer Taser: Listen to me, everybody! I’m your new leader! I’m gonna save your lives from the big crime wave! I’m gonna tell you what to do!
Old Woman: Don’t listen to that power hungry fool. There is no big crime wave.
Officer Taser: I tell ya there is too!
Old Woman: And I tell you there aint!
Officer Taser: Is too!
Old Woman: All right, if there is a big crime wave then why hasn’t someone attack me?
[Officer Taser zaps Old Woman with a taser]
Q Public: Officer Taser is right! What do we do? Oh, Officer Taser, you’ve got to help us!
Cheshire Cat on June 9, 2009 at 11:04 PM
Well, no. Cops are sometimes wrong. Just not in this particular old lady/Taser instance.
RedNewEnglander on June 9, 2009 at 11:04 PM
For proof of this, see police suicide rates compared to any other profession, not just the ones you mentioned.
Add that to your equation, mull it over, and post again.
RedNewEnglander on June 9, 2009 at 10:59 PM
Well, for some reason dentists are usually the highest on that particular list. I wouldn’t describe that as a dangerous profession though…
darclon on June 9, 2009 at 11:02 PM
RedNewEnglander on June 9, 2009 at 11:06 PM
Totally got what she deserved. Good job officer. Just like in the medical field, you worry about being sued if you do nothing, and you worry about being sued if you do something.
Doctor B on June 9, 2009 at 11:06 PM
Bzzzzzzt. Wrong. We still need a secession thread!
bitsy on June 9, 2009 at 11:07 PM
Officer Taser: Listen to me, everybody! I’m your new leader! I’m gonna save your lives from the big crime wave! I’m gonna tell you what to do!
Old Woman: Don’t listen to that power hungry fool. There is no big crime wave.
Officer Taser: I tell ya there is too!
Old Woman: And I tell you there aint!
Officer Taser: Is too!
Old Woman: All right, if there is a big crime wave then why hasn’t someone attack me?
[Officer Taser zaps Old Woman with a taser]
Q Public: Officer Taser is right! What do we do? Oh, Officer Taser, you’ve got to help us!
Cheshire Cat on June 9, 2009 at 11:04 PM
RedNewEnglander on June 9, 2009 at 11:08 PM
brogers on June 9, 2009 at 11:11 PM
Sounds like another (burnout?) who might be happier in another job …… and less dangerous.
MB4 on June 9, 2009 at 11:11 PM
Seriously?
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.
csdeven on June 9, 2009 at 11:12 PM
quote fail, and with that I go to bed.
brogers on June 9, 2009 at 11:12 PM
Cripes! I messed that up bad.
csdeven on June 9, 2009 at 11:13 PM
If you had stayed awake when you attended the Code Pink off-Broadway Revue you would not be asking such a silly question.
Cheshire Cat on June 9, 2009 at 11:14 PM
It’s really very simple: Do what the officer says. Provided of course he’s not asking you to break the law.
boomer on June 9, 2009 at 11:17 PM
Actually, pondering the implications of that for just a bit, if he is “asking” you to break the law that is probably all the more reason to do what he says.
MB4 on June 9, 2009 at 11:20 PM
After watching the video, I don’t think it was necessary to taser this suspect. It appears that the officer over reacted
Dollayo on June 9, 2009 at 11:21 PM
>>Is this part where you explain how the 72 year old woman was a threat to murder the police officer?
I guess it depends on if is the part where you say that an old lady in Texas isn’t carrying a weapon and that use of that weapon on the officer would never, ever, ever, ever result in his death. Your call.
>>Interestingly, taxi drivers have MUCH higher rates of homicide at the workplace. Over 100% higher according to NIOSH.
Again, the potential for being murdered is not a normal part of their job description. They are being murdered, more often than not, for their money, not because they are simply driving a cab. Big difference.
>> The bottom line is that all jobs carry risk of death and injury. In construction, this is frequently the result of human action, whether on purpose or not. If someone starts a fight on a construction site because another worker endangered them, he will get thrown off of the job for that. His anger might be justified if he was put at risk by another person’s behavior, but that does not justify his actions. Likewise a police officer can be cautious but beating and/or electrocuting people who present no threat is also unacceptable.
You were doing well until that last sentence. See my first sentence for your reason why.
>> However police take the attitude of anything they do is okay because “IT”S OUR LIVES ON THE LINE!!!!!”
Well, that’s your opinion. And every day I go to work, my life is on the line. And if it’s between your life or mine, you will be the one not coming downstairs for breakfast tomorrow. Guaranteed. Furthermore, I would hope that any cabbie, pizza guy or dentist faced with a sudden, intentional attempt on their life would have the same plans for their attacker.
>> The fact that many jobs are much more dangerous, even with respect to the risk of homicide is an inconvenient truth.
But, again – none, NONE carry “may get murdered” as part of the normal, day-to-day job description. None.
And therein is the difference.
RedNewEnglander on June 9, 2009 at 11:23 PM
Any time a cop tazes an unarmed 72 year old woman he is wrong and so is any a$$hole that supports his doing so.
doriangrey on June 9, 2009 at 11:28 PM
Uneducated, and flat out wrong opinion noted.
And with that –
THANK YOU VERY KINDLY!!!
GOOD NIGHT!!!
RedNewEnglander on June 9, 2009 at 11:30 PM
There is more data on this out there, but here is a little.
I guess the high stress, lack of respect, and the potential to self-medicate don’t mix very well.
darclon on June 9, 2009 at 11:32 PM
No one is above or beneath the law. If he following policy then change the policy.
Claypigeon on June 9, 2009 at 11:35 PM
Opinion of goose stepping Nazi Gestapo thug noted as well.
doriangrey on June 9, 2009 at 11:38 PM
I don’t care if this woman had a I LOVE OBAMA shirt on; this kind of treatment is totally unacceptable. The retarded liberals are crying out for anti American terrorist being watered down with water, which is not torture and U.S. Citizens are being burned with electric shock by an ever growing police state country.
pimadave on June 9, 2009 at 11:40 PM
How come Obama never gets tasered? Obama has broken more laws than the 72-year-old great-grandmother!
Basil Fawlty on June 9, 2009 at 11:50 PM
Mercy, here’s all he needed to say to get her on her merry way and him back on patrol….”Here ya go ma’am, you aint got to sign it but you do have to appear in court.” Hand her the friggin ticket and let her go. If she wont take it, drop it in her truck and go back in service.
Or, Better yet. Take Coondawg’s Old Person Law #1. Old folks can prety much do anything they want as long as they aint killin no one. I’d give her a warning and be done with it.
the Coondawg on June 9, 2009 at 11:51 PM
We had an old woman in our law office who was in trouble. She started laughing and yelled out for everyone to hear..
I never accept homemade popcorn balls from them at Halloween anymore…
GoodBoy on June 9, 2009 at 11:53 PM
+1
/still up
RedNewEnglander on June 10, 2009 at 12:05 AM
I try. As I said, I have no desire to be tasered. I’d probably hunt you down and do bad things if you tasered me, but she put herself in the position where she was going to get arrested. She not only asked the officer to arrest her, yelled in his face, got out of the car, cursed at him, and refused to comply, but she put his life, her life, and the lives of drivers in danger with her little stunt.
It was a bad situation for everyone once it got to that point – and I fault them both for it – but to throw a fit over him tasering her is absurd. I’ve seen unjustified taser use. I’ve seen them taser a mostly compliant woman out of her car without reason. I have no love for the taser, but in this situation, when she was going to be arrested and was resisting, it presented the least chance (by far) of her sustaining a serious injury.
Claiming that she should get a waver on – frankly atrocious treatment of the officer – because she is elderly is nonsense and would just encourage future activity of in kind from her in the future. I have no doubt that if I were to treat an officer like she did I’d be arrested – and I’d probably get tasered in the course of being arrested because it is the most viable way to handcuff a resistant person without injuring them or the officer.
Stomper on June 10, 2009 at 12:24 AM
Here in my small town America:
Local man calls 911. Says he thinks he’s being robbed. Cops knock on door. Man answers door with gun. Cops shoot man. Cop interviewed by local media and states: “Our first concern is the safety of our officers”. The old biddy should just be glad she got tased. So much for protect and serve.
bicraftuallass on June 10, 2009 at 12:41 AM
I have more than one current or former police officer in my family.
Fire and incarcerate the government-educated “cop,” and his employer should be busy preparing for the financially crippling lawsuit I so hope is coming.
-Dave
Dave R. on June 10, 2009 at 12:51 AM
She’s a nasty one and a bald-faced liar. However, I would not have used a taser gun but rather force her to the ground and put on the handcuffs. I’m sure the big fat cop could have handled a 72 year old woman without needing a taser gun.
FierceGuppy on June 10, 2009 at 1:16 AM
Try the USMC or US Army. And that great military pay. And all of those wonderful FOB locations.
Johan Klaus on June 10, 2009 at 1:36 AM
At least they didn’t waterboard her, so no harm done.
Dr. ZhivBlago on June 10, 2009 at 1:41 AM
Granny shouldn’t have gotten smart with a cop if she didn’t want to do the taser induced electric worm.
This cop showed tremendous restraint when trying to apprehend this uncooperative perp who was trying to flee the scene.
Mr Purple on June 10, 2009 at 2:52 AM
Looks like Granny never had a proper upbringing. As they say, it’s never too late to learn.
Goodale on June 10, 2009 at 3:08 AM
Unfortunately there are laws and policies that restrict the officers response to her. He just can’t send her on her merry little way after her egregious behavior.
csdeven on June 10, 2009 at 3:45 AM
Is there a law that states if you don’t sign within 10 seconds for a ticket you have to go to jail and get tasered? It is true that at 1:20 and 1:21 in the video having refused to sign the ticket the 72-year-old asks twice to be taken to jail. But at 1:28 she asks for the ticket stating she will sign it and repeats the statement at 1:33 that she will sign the ticket.
At 1:31 officer Donut has screamed in the 72-year-old woman’s face to get over behind the vehicle; at 2:07, 36 seconds later, she hasn’t been tasered yet and he is still talking about tasering her. Since she had agreed twice to sign the ticket why didn’t the cop at 1:33 simply state, “get further back behind the vehicle so that neither one of us will be hit by oncoming traffic”, instead of arguing about tasering her for over 36 seconds.
Basil Fawlty on June 10, 2009 at 3:52 AM
I hate cops, Every effin one of em. Who’s protecting us from this thin blue line?
billypaintbrush on June 10, 2009 at 4:34 AM
Any cop that pushes and tazers a 72 years old upset woman because she was going 15 mph over a temporary speed limit isn’t a good cop. At the very least, he isn’t good at his job. He’s not a professional. He does not have control over his own emotions. He allowed the situation to get out of control (if you’ve dealt with old people, especially old ones, you know how easy that can happen). Anybody with a little calm understanding could have easily defused the situation but he didn’t even make the slightest effort to do so, did he.
Sherman1864 on June 10, 2009 at 5:27 AM
without, that is . . . . Hang down your head Tom . . . .etc.
Sherman1864 on June 10, 2009 at 5:29 AM
Tazer: 1
“Wise” old woman: 0
rogue780 on June 10, 2009 at 5:44 AM
RedNewEnglander is part of the disgusting culture within police departments that allows thugs like this to stay employed.
Despite the fact that other jobs are much more dangerous, and even carry higher risk of being murdered, he continues with his line of bullshit about “we could get killed!!!” So could I, so could the pizza man, so could the taxi driver, so could the guy who allows us to eat tuna fish, and the guy who sells liquor. I’m sure the cop was fearing for his life when he electrocuted that old woman. Unbelievable.
brogers on June 10, 2009 at 6:12 AM
I got no problem with this.
The police officer was just doing what this woman, regrettably, made necessary.
She could have just signed the ticket and been on her way. But noooooooo! She’s a 72-year-old woman, and should be allowed to drive as fast as she wants.
If you don’t sign the ticket, you have to be arrested. No two ways about that. If he lets her go without a signature, there is no citation and he is just letting her go. That is simply not going to happen. The purpose of the stop is to control speeds on a dangerous highway. You can’t do that by letting Granny go.
Once they are on the side of the road, the officer’s first responsibility is to keep this woman safe. Unfortunately, she is constantly moving toward the white line separating the shoulder from the active roadway. The officer simply cannot let her cross that line. No two ways about that, either. He warns her (five times!), but she continues to assert that she has a right as a seventy-two year old to do whatever she damn well pleases.
Finally she gets past the officer an into traffic and he pushes her back and puts her down with the taser. He really didn’t have a choice at that point. To physically wrestle the cuffs onto her in that situation would have been the much more dangerous course of action. All she would have had to do is wriggle away, and she could have been spread all over the highway by some passing truck.
This woman could have ended this thing at any time by simply agreeing to sign the ticket. Instead, she chose to steadily escalate the situation, thinking the officer would let her get away with doing whatever she wanted because of her age. What she failed to realize (in spite of repeated warnings) is that she was in a dangerous situation, and her actions made her tazering necessary.
Give the officer a bonus and a couple of days off and put him back on the street. He’s doing his job, and doing it well.
gridlock2 on June 10, 2009 at 6:18 AM
I’m backing Gridlock2 on this. He didn’t push her to be sadistic, he pushed her just hard enough to keep her from stepping into the road where vehicles were zipping by at high rates of speed. Let’s face it, if he had REALLY wanted to push her hard, he could probably have pushed her through a tree. He tazed her because physically subduing her to place her into handcuffs would have probably caused great physical harm to her. Just gripping her arm hard could cause vascular damage, or even break a brittle bone. And, of course, while wrestling there is a risk either or both may have ended up in the road and flattened by oncoming traffic. On the other hand, a tazer delivers a safe electric jolt which does NOT affect pace makers, or even heart tissue, as independant tests have proven. Does it hurt? Hell yeah. Does it hurt as much as someone forcing your arms behind your back while you thrash to and fro, kicking and biting? Maybe…but it doesn’t cause anywhere NEAR the physical damage.
Here’s the funny thing. HAD the officer grappled with her like so many here say he should have…they’d be criticizing him for ‘beating up’ that little old lady. Or, had he allowed her to go past him and gotten flattened they’d be demanding his head on a silver platter because he didn’t do anything to stop her, like use physical force or a tazer.
wolfva on June 10, 2009 at 6:33 AM
This is just amazing to me. Out of all the real instances of police corruption and brutality, people choose to get their panties in a twist because of this? Granted, I did not see the whole video, just what the news channel edited in, but it seems to be cut and dry. Seriously, go to policelink.com. It is riddled with stories of actual corruption and brutality. Why is this one being nitpicked? Being 72 years old does not make you immune to the law.
She refused to sign the ticket, then resisted arrest. With as many warnings as he gave…for crying out loud, a guy that size could have put her through a tree! And just because the reality of being arrested becomes clear does not mean she then gets to change her mind and signed the ticket. Even though she hasnt been cuffed yet, she is under arrest. She dosent get to take it back.
And as someone who has actually had to wrestle down old people, it is a very odd sitation. I put it on par with wrestling down a young child. You are more worried you are going to hurt them than anything.
And no, the taser would not have affected a pacemaker.
I used to get all worked up about these posts but not any more. It dosent matter what is posted on here. If the officer was in the wrong he will be reprimanded. If not, nothing will happen to him. I will put my money on the latter.
SnakeintheGrass on June 10, 2009 at 6:45 AM
Oh, and if you dont think old people can be dangerous, check out this.
Heh.
SnakeintheGrass on June 10, 2009 at 6:50 AM
Face it, her NOT signing the ticket wouldn’t change a thing. She’d be given the fine and points anyhow. He has film PROOF of her refusal to sign it.This was COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY and nothing more than a power play on an old lady by a cop.
Jeff from WI on June 10, 2009 at 6:54 AM
Heh. Allah’s loves his controversy.
csdeven on June 10, 2009 at 7:09 AM
Wrong. Signing a ticket is a promise to appear, not an admission of guilt. Without the signature to promise to appear, the woman has no obligation to appear and thus would never have to answer the charge.
Soooo, when an person refuses to sign, the officer MUST take that person into custody and deliver her to the local judge to adjudicate the charge at that time. Since the silly old bitch refused to sign and then resisted arrest, the officer had no choice than to take her into custody by force. And once you have resisted arrest, you have committed ANOTHER more serious crime and MUST be arrested. You just don’t get a do over after resisting arrest.
Remember, she escalated this into what it became and forced the officers response. The officer acted in a completely professional manner through the entire event.
csdeven on June 10, 2009 at 7:16 AM
He was doing fine until he pulled out the taser. His life was NOT in danger. He could have EASILY physically restrained her.
She should pay for her crimes with money and jail. The cop should lose his job, if this is how he reacts. He let his ego control him when he should have just done his job.
I feel sorry for the lady (I won’t go into that because I don’t know what type of person she is), but she did need to be shoved around – it just became totally out of hand with the taser.
ochako1984 on June 10, 2009 at 7:22 AM
Read my 7:16 am post and get back to us.
And tasers were designed as an alternative to brute force. Something this ignorant granny was bound and determined to engage the officer in. He showed restraint by tazing her because physically restraining her would have caused her serious harm.
csdeven on June 10, 2009 at 7:26 AM
perhaps he should of strapped her to a board, put a pillow case over her head and poured water on her face, then maybe she would have listened to the officer. Tazing is just torture!!
If she was a young black male, most comments would be “nice job officer”
greataunty on June 10, 2009 at 7:27 AM
Wrong again Allah. he deserves a party, a promotion, and a citation for showing restraint.
csdeven on June 10, 2009 at 7:30 AM
Guess you didn’t realize cops are not allowed to do this because of the injury and lawsuit that might happen, which is why they taser people now instead.
JeffinSac on June 10, 2009 at 7:32 AM
Bwahahahahahahaaaa!!!!!!
csdeven on June 10, 2009 at 7:39 AM
Some days the temptation to let idiots like this run out into the traffic must be sooooooo strong…
gridlock2 on June 10, 2009 at 7:59 AM
I was prepared to consider the officer’s actions excessive, until I read gridlock’s explanation. No, that doesn’t mean letting Granny off the hook. She was pretty much asking to be tasered, given the number of warnings. But part of a police officer’s training is in applying force proportionate to the situation. That said, this one is cut and dry. I’m not sure it would have been had Granny been wearing a pacemaker.
Bottom line, never give someone a hard time when they carry a gun.
manwithblackhat on June 10, 2009 at 8:09 AM
The ol’ Texas gal probably thought that signing the ticket was an assent to the speeding charge. A short respectful explanation by the patrol officer may have gone a long way toward calming the situ. Moreover, he made her exit her vehicle into the traffic flow. If he was determined to arrest her for a traffic violation, a wiser egress from the vehicle, for an old woman, would have been from the passenger side.
Further on, when she did agree to sign the citation, the officer could have allowed her do so. However, at that point he had way too much adreno-machismo invested. That’s when things usually go from bad to worse. This officer definately contributed to the escalation by his failure to manage the situation, follow-up training in dealing more wisely with tough ol’ Texas ladybirds should be mandatory. Moreover, just the threat of a jury trial, will more than likely lead to a minumum of $100,000 to settle out of court. Hope the strong-hearted granny enjoys the windfall, she earned it the hard way, by tazer.
“Let’s Roll”
On Watch on June 10, 2009 at 8:12 AM
That old bag deserved it for pushing that big, strong, sensitive law man.
If I lived in a community where cops did that sort of thing, I’d lead the charge to cancel their services and hire an independent service. It’s time to take weapons away from ticket cops.
kregg on June 10, 2009 at 8:13 AM
Nonsense!!!
The 72-year-old woman offered twice to sign the ticket. See my 3:52 AM for further amplification.
Basil Fawlty on June 10, 2009 at 8:33 AM
I’m totally FOR using tasers, but not when other options are available. I think, for me, it’s the psychological aspect of it that bothers me. “You be good now or I’ll hafta use th’ shocky stick!” Once he did that he brought up a whole new thing for her to defy, thinking if he tases her, she can milk the “little old lady” routine even further – as she’s done.
He lost his patience. She’s a cantankerous 72yo, but a 72yo, nonetheless. When you’re his size and age you (should) have the upper hand. What he lacked in authority, he made up with a zappy gadget. I don’t want a cop patrolling if he/she can’t have a bit of mercy on a tiny old woman.
He’s probably not a bad guy, like most guys who would tase a 72yo woman – but it still doesn’t make it right.
Yes, she’s doing fine, but that’s not the point. There are times to do things and a time not to.
ochako1984 on June 10, 2009 at 8:48 AM
Exactly. If he had tried to wrestle her to the ground and broke her arm, the thread would have been named:
Good news: Cop breaks arm of 72-year-old great-grandmother
It’s always interesting to read the comments in these threads. I’m certainly not condoning the officer’s actions, but it’s fun watching the reaction of people who have never worn a badge in their life.
NC Cop on June 10, 2009 at 8:51 AM
That old bat put that cop in a no-win situation. Her smart mouth and disobeying of orders are the cause of this. What are the guy’s options – taze her, or wrestle with her and cuff her? Either way, it doesn’t look good for him. But as the video showed, it looks like the guy followed procedure. She was told to comply multiple times, and was even warned that she would be tazed if she didn’t. The old bat still refused. I don’t think he should be disciplined at all. I don’t care how old she is. Being 72 doesn’t give you the right to act like that. In fact, she ought to be charged with some more offenses for her antics. Resisting arrest maybe? This is another arrogant white-trash hilljack with the “ain’t no copper gonna tell me what ta do” kind of attitude. And there are consequences for that. She doesn’t deserve a penny for this. If she’d have just signed the ticket, which we all have to do when we get one, none of this would have happened. Maybe the bat learned her lesson. If a cop tells you to do something that they have the right to tell you to do, DO IT AND SHUT UP!
moonbat monitor on June 10, 2009 at 9:04 AM
Try keeping in mind the fact that the Nazi’s, the Stasi, the KGB all of the most repressive evil organizations in human history honestly believed that they were upholding the law of their countries. Not for one single second did they think of themselves as evil men raping and plundering their fellow citizens.
They were Law Enforcement Officers lawfully executing the legal statutes of their respective nations. Next time you put that badge on remember, its the exact same profession as the Gestapo, The Stasi and the KGB, and your mindset is exactly the same as theirs was. Enforce the LAW.
doriangrey on June 10, 2009 at 9:06 AM
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