Where is the Line Between Police Brutality and Necessary Force? Suspect Dies After Being Tasered
A few months ago, two Fullerton police officers were charged in the death of a transient. One officer is facing murder charges, while the other is facing manslaughter charges. The murder defense attorney representing the officer facing the most serious charges is arguing that the victim was resisting, and police used reasonable force. The victim was tasered multiple times and struck repeatedly after being handcuffed.
Today, police in Colton, CA are under attack in another death involving a suspect being tasered multiple times. The incident happened over the weekend when police responded to a potential domestic violence call. According to both witnesses and police, the man involved was intoxicated and combative with police officers.
Due to the man’s size, it reportedly took 3 officers to subdue and handcuff the man. At some point during the scuffle, the man experienced an undisclosed medical emergency. Paramedics were called to the scene and the man was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
An investigation is currently being conducted by the San Bernardino Sherriff’s Department, and should the responding officers be found to have used excessive force, it will raise serious questions about the use of supposed “non-lethal” weapons in the attempt to restrain a suspect.
This also isn’t the first time in the past 12 months that the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department has investigated the death of a suspect after the use of a taser. In May, a 43-year-old man was tasered following a routine traffic stop and subsequently died.
When is the use of a taser a deadly weapon in the hands of the police? Are there better and safer ways to restrain a citizen who may have taken drugs or drank too much short of using force that could reasonably lead to their death? What are your thoughts on this very serious issue?