Article from Reason by Zuri Davis.
A Pennsylvania police officer tased a sitting suspect in the back, and video of the incident is going viral.
A Facebook video shows a man since identified as Sean Williams, 27, on a sidewalk as a Lancaster police officer, identified as Philip Bernot, gives him instructions to sit on the curb.
Bernot can be seen pointing his Electronic Control Device (ECD) towards Williams while he speaks. Bernot tells Williams to put his legs “straight out,” which he does. Bernot then tells Williams to cross his ankles. As Williams begins to pull his legs back, Bernot, who is standing behind the seated man, shoots his ECD into Williams’ back.
…
Lancaster Mayor Danene responded to the incident after the video circulated. Sorace said in her own Facebook videothat she was “upset” by the initial video. She went on to say that the use of force was taken “very seriously” and announced an investigation was underway. Sorace also mentioned communication with civil rights groups and confirmed her support for a body camera initiative.
Read the entire article at Reason.
Image Credit: By Jamelle Bouie [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
wpDiscuz
It is my hope that the victim , Mr Williams, gets a shark lawyer and prepares to own Lancaster. The attack is not justified and is a violation of many statutes, state and federal. Lawyers will get rich from this one and the stupid voters of Lancaster will get to pay and pay and pay.
Don’t hold your breath.
At first glance, this appears excessive to the untrained eye. However, the officer was giving commands to keep everyone involved safe. Extending your legs and crossing them puts you in an immobile position where quick offensive action is difficult. This gentleman after being told to extend his legs straight forward and then cross them, pulled them back under himself where he would be able to spring forward in fight or flight. Not having seen the total of this video, I don’t know the offense or if he had been searched for a weapon.
Incompetent accidental discharge is the only lawful explanation.
‘Cross your ankles’ doesn’t mean ‘pull your legs back in like you’re getting ready to stand up’. I would’ve tazed him too.
Mr. Williams was not following instructions, attempting to maintain a posture which would allow him to spring to his feet and hit “The Nike Express” at an opportune moment. Furthermore, he was warned that he would be tazed if he failed to comply. One must also note that, even after riding the lightning, despite the instructions to put his arms “straight out like an airplane”, he was attempting to keep his arms in a position which would permit him to push up and start running. Force appears to be justified to me.