Cops use Taser on woman buying too many iPhones

http://www.wcvb.com/news/local/boston-north/Cops-use-Taser-on-woman-buying-too-many-iPhones/-/11984708/17744626/-/vp9mdkz/-/index.html

by polskibus • 14 years ago

7 5 14 years ago

wcvb.com

jtokoph• 14 years ago

"Cops use Taser on Uncooperative Woman"

kenthorvath• 14 years ago

"Cops use Taser on (+Unarmed) Uncooperative Woman (+Holding a Video Camera)"

- Fixed that for you.

Now:

Why a taser?

Couldn't they just slap her in handcuffs and escort her out of the store?

Tasers are supposed to be substituted for lethal force when no other options exist. If they had no tasers, would they have shot her instead?

Bad form for the taser alone. But, shear stupidity to use it when being recorded on video, unless absolutely necessary.

inafield• 14 years ago

Why a taser? Couldn't they just slap her in handcuffs and escort her out of the store?

Protocol. It took awhile before the second officer arrived. She resisted arrest for 15 minutes. The alternative at that point is to either use a club or hand-to-hand combat.

Legally (depending on the jurisdiction), and IANAL, only the taser is considered to be less-than-lethal. Clubs are lethal. Hand-to-hand combat is often considered lethal force and undesirable because of the risks to both the officers and the uncooperative subject.

I have two relatives working as either guards or wardens in maximum security prisons. By law they use tasers first. Any usage of hand-to-hand or extendable batons is treated the same as if it were a gun. Less paperwork and investigation with tasers. Maybe it is the same in Boston.

teilo• 14 years ago

> Why a taser?

Because waiting around for another cop to show up does little to instill fear and promote the cause of the police state.

Thank God for cell phone cameras.

Cops use Taser on woman buying too many iPhones

Related Stories