I need to leave my 2cents worth here. I am a deputy here in Oklahoma and I would articulate the use of the Taser in this particular case as completely justified. The driver was on the phone with an unknown person(s) telling them the officer had a gun and was going to shoot her. Is this her mother or is this a group of hoodlums that may be sitting just around the corner. At this point it is imperative that she become compliant and the situation brought to swift closure for all of their safety (officers' as well as the drivers'). The last thing the officer wants to do is to reach into the vehicle and remove the driver if he has access to a device such as the Taser. This leaves him open to being attacked by someone on the floor in the back. Bringing the driver to you by use of the Taser is much safer for both driver and officer. It takes out some of the unknown and allows the driver to understand the officer is serious and to hopefully enhance the drivers' ability to understand the gravity of their situation.
It is my opinion that the use of pepper spray here could back wash on the officer and actually impede their ability to control this situation. (We use pepper foam so we can control the back splash / wash of gases to us.)
Yes, Taser hurts like hell, but just for a moment. And yes, CS in the eyes hurts like hell, but just for a little while. Niether of them are permanent. (And yes, there are a few recorded instances of deaths surrounding the use of CS as well as Taser, but I have yet to see any proof of their being the direct cause of the victim's death.)
As an aside, the first CS (pepper) gases were in an alcohol base and guess what happened when a suspect who'd been doused in CS got Tasered?? Instant fireball... needless to say, the CS we use now is non-flammable...)
Humbly,
K
|