VIDEO: Elderly Woman Tasered, Her Arm Broken, for Not Removing Her Earrings Fast Enough

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

Not that tazing her is the best option but how should you remove her personal effects when she is not being compliant during the booking process? It would have looked equally as bad if they restrained her and then removed the earrings themselves. Lose, lose scenario on this.

It's called patience and tact which lead to professionalism, which these guys aren't.

They are clearly allowed to just abuse people. They have clearly been given the green light by higher ups to just do as they please. Or they are just trained to bark orders and tase if they aren't followed. No one there seems to know how to do their jobs. And if there was someone there who does, they are still not doing their job because they stand back and watch how it's all done wrong. None of these "professionals" were in threat for their lives. And if they truly feel that they were, they should quit and go into another field of work.

If they really wanted the personal effects, they would have used a better way to get them. Why not just punch her square in the jaw at this rate?

THUGS & SCUM!!!

Just one more bit of evidence on the growing pile of steaming crap of abuse by cops, to prove that you should NEVER have a run in with the "law". Just one more citizen who's distrustful of cops. Way to go porky pig!

originally posted by: Sparkymedic
If they really wanted the personal effects, they would have used a better way to get them.

Such as?

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

originally posted by: Sparkymedic
If they really wanted the personal effects, they would have used a better way to get them.

Such as?

Well, once patience and tact run out there are always ultimatums like: "if you don't give us this, we will be forced to remove it for you...your choice." And if that's what they choose, well, with about 6 grown men there they could easily, non-violently, restrain her and have someone remove it. And if they knew what they were doing the worst that would happen is she would have a bruised wrist. Not a broken one. But we all know police aren't trained in non-violent crisis intervention, which personally blows my mind. And if they are, they constantly fail to use this approach. They are in the station, what should be a controlled setting, so why the need to taser? This isn't them arresting her on the street. And if they think she's still a high risk in the station, they again have failed to do their jobs in searching her for weapons or whatever they feel is a threat. Again, if they feel a 60yo female is a threat, switch jobs!

I do things like this on a daily basis working in the mental health field, and usually in much more dangerous and hostile situations than what was presented in the thread. And I don't have a bullet proof vest, handcuffs, tazers, pepper spray, gun. I just have my knowledge, my team and my training. And no one gets broken bones.

I stand by my judgment. They all failed at their job. Miserably!

originally posted by: Sparkymedic

Well, once patience and tact run out there are always ultimatums like: "if you don't give us this, we will be forced to remove it for you...your choice."

Which is what I said earlier. Is six people holding down an older women a good visual? Not really.

I only know one way that was pretty much guaranteed not to get her involved with them physically.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

originally posted by: Sparkymedic

Well, once patience and tact run out there are always ultimatums like: "if you don't give us this, we will be forced to remove it for you...your choice."

Which is what I said earlier. Is six people holding down an older women a good visual? Not really.

I only know one way that was pretty much guaranteed not to get her involved with them physically.

Sure, it may not have looked pretty on camera, and to be honest, more than 3 people on here would still be excessive force. BUT if done right, it would have been a hell of a lot better than a taser for her, and them. AND again if done right, the video would vindicate them. Not the other way around.

If you dont mind, what is the only way that you know they could have handled this without a physical altercation?

originally posted by: Sparkymedic

If you dont mind, what is the only way that you know they could have handled this without a physical altercation?

If she continued to refuse to be compliant? None.

originally posted by: Discotech
a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

Who do you think is going to foot the bill for this 1.75million law suit ?

It's funny watching the video, I counted in total 8 officers at one point, 8 of them and their only logical response was to tase a little old lady ?

this makes me sick... 8 fully grown men cant handle a little old lady? how can anyone defend these "men" with a straight face? are they too scared to fight someone their own size? cowards the whole lot of them!

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

I only know one way that was pretty much guaranteed not to get her involved with them physically.

I was asking what that "one way" is. Or are you being facetious?

originally posted by: Sparkymedic
I was asking what that "one way" is. Or are you being facetious?

No, I was under the impression that you understood I meant her acquiescing was the only way to avoid a physical confrontation. Continuing to avoid compliance would have eventually resulted in a physical confrontation.

originally posted by: JourneymanWelder

originally posted by: Discotech
a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

Who do you think is going to foot the bill for this 1.75million law suit ?

It's funny watching the video, I counted in total 8 officers at one point, 8 of them and their only logical response was to tase a little old lady ?

this makes me sick... 8 fully grown men cant handle a little old lady? how can anyone defend these "men" with a straight face? are they too scared to fight someone their own size? cowards the whole lot of them!

Only took 1 officer to get her to comply. Once in jail they don't ask they give you a warning. She chose to not follow the jailers instructions. I think this was handled much better than they used to. 30 years ago would have cracked her over the head and taken them off. This was a no win scenario they couldn't allow her to keep them on and she refused to take them off. There is no nice way to remove earnings especially if they a pierced.

30 years ago would have cracked her over the head and taken them off

30 years ago people had more respect for elders than people today do more likely.

a reply to: dragonridr

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: RainbowPhoenix

All I have read at this point are excuses.

bullies with badges:

You're gonna get it. This is for your own good. You had this coming. Look what you made me do.

Sounds just like my abusive ex boyfriend.

a reply to: RainbowPhoenix
Unfortunately, I personally would comply with EVERYTHING the officer's ask of me immediately for them because I know about the possible repercussions of not doing so. Also, elderly women can sometimes be extremely stubborn, which is a trait I personally cant tolerate in the elderly. She should have known better, but that's probably asking too much of her. I can't stand it when elderly people have a false sense of entitlement. That crap ticks me off actually.

pmfg, thousands of dead Americans all across the country dead, some for as petty an excuse as "he looked at me" , and people still do not understand "JUST #ING COMPLY!" I mean wtf, she is not special. Jewerly can easily be turned into a deadly weapon by another inmate who could steal them, or simply trade it off for a cold or hot tray.

If a single person here believes she should have been allowed to keep her jewelry on, then they simply have zero experience whatsoever within the (in)justice system and should leave their ignorant opinions behind. It is mandatory that ALL PERSSONAL BELONGINGS will be confiscated and held in a secure location. FFS you are a technical criminal being booked into a jail.

If they had restrained her instead, OP would simply be about how brutal it was that 4-6 men violently accosted an elderly woman and caused a torn ear lobe with blood dripping around and everything.

Was the tazer too far?? Likely. As already stated though, this was lose lose because she was elderly, and chose to be belligerent. She wanted too utilize her elderly privilege to elicit an outcome in her favor after breaking the law, thinking she would get special treatment.

Like seriously, I am not happy she has a broken arm. But a woman of her age should have known better and just comply. I wont necessarily clear the guards of wrongdoing, but like seriously. Any way it would have went they would have ended up in the wrong, and with the way she refused to comply likely would have been injured regardless, leading us right back to this whole debate on ethics and moral dilemma.

All parties guilty , but the old lady more so. She will not get a pass just because she wants to use her age as an excuse for special treatment. Yes, refusing to remove her jewelry is demanding special treatment.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

originally posted by: Sparkymedic
I was asking what that "one way" is. Or are you being facetious?

No, I was under the impression that you understood I meant her acquiescing was the only way to avoid a physical confrontation. Continuing to avoid compliance would have eventually resulted in a physical confrontation.

My apologies on my assumptions. I totally agree that some people just don't know when to quit and they are essentially asking for it. I'm sure the lady would have smartened up had she foresaw breaking her arm from a tase. That said, she isn't the paid and trained professionals who are to remain professional and non abusive to the public.

Police have to deal with very unrealistic and over the top people all the time. It's their job to deal with these people. All the more reason to not have them go ape with tasers (or any other weapon) whenever they get frustrated by perps. Use the pepper spray, taser and gun to defend life as needed and when appropriate. That is all. This was 100% not a life or death situation. And to extrapolate it as such is a huge stretch.

I understand that jewellery cannot be allowed in cells. And I do concede that this is basically a lose lose situation. As a former medic, I have worked side by side with cops and I do feel their frustration with the rude, uncompliant public at large. It is epically frustrating. And jail is jail. Obey or pay (within reasonable limits which don't go into abuse...but where does that grey area start and stop these days?) It seems to be a very grey area in the US more than other places though.

That said, the system which the police work under and the situation which drove this individual to minor theft is likely another defining moment for a failed monetary socioeconomic system.

a reply to: Sparkymedic

I agree with you, however any type of physical display would have been a very poor visual. There is fault on both sides here.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

I agree... And I edited what you replied to. It's more of a clear and true thought of mine.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

What about that restraint chair that keeps you from moving? Could that have helped?? I am sure you know the one I speak of?? The pictures I see online for restraint chair do not have the head strap to keep you from moving your head like the one I saw at the local jail some years back, although that one said patent pending.

originally posted by: AmericanRealist
What about that restraint chair that keeps you from moving? Could that have helped?? I am sure you know the one I speak of?? The pictures I see online for restraint chair do not have the head strap to keep you from moving your head like the one I saw at the local jail some years back, although that one said patent pending.

And they would have had to forcibly escort her to the chair and then forcibly restrain her in it to remove her earrings.

That is the point I was making, it does not matter what they did, if she continued to refuse to be compliant at some point force would have become necessary (and I am not saying they should have Tased her).

Inexcusable. She should sue for more.