Great-grandmother threatens to sue police after being tased

[HURAKAN]

Texan senior sues over stun gun
By Jon Donnison
BBC News, Washington

A 72-year-old great-grandmother in Texas has threatened to sue police after an officer "tased" her with an electronic stun gun.

Kathryn Winkfein was pulled over for speeding while doing her weekly shopping in Austin, Texas.

The officer shocked her with the taser gun after she resisted arrest and became argumentative.

CCTV footage showed her screaming with pain on the ground but police say that she was not seriously injured.

Mrs Winkfein was stopped by a police officer for speeding in her white pick-up truck.

Grainy police video footage shows the officer shove her and point the taser gun at her as she refuses to go quietly.

She dares the officer to shoot her, he opens fire.

As Mrs Winkfein writhes on the ground, the officer threatens to shoot again.

Taser guns fire 50,000 volts. They are widely used by police in the United States and are categorised as non-lethal weapons.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/w ... 094023.stm

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I'm sorry but this is just inconceivable. Unless the woman pulls a gun, I don't see any reason to use that kind of force. It's a senior citizen and taser guns should be used when the police feels threatened.

[Category 5]

Unacceptable conduct by the officers, a stun gun to someone of that age could cause serious injury.

[Derek Ortt]

don't resist arrest

[mf_dolphin]

Unacceptable conduct by the officers, a stun gun to someone of that age could cause serious injury.

Sorry but I disagree. She was out of line and she got exactly what she asked for IMO.

[Squarethecircle]

I would have really, really liked to see some physical resistance before the application of the taser.

[vbhoutex]

She may have been argumentative and out of line rude, to say the least, but the first physical action I saw was the officer pushing her(admittedly trying to get her off the pavement). I'm not so sure the taser was warranted, but she was definitely out of line also.

[Pburgh]

Actually she DID ask for it if you listen to her comments. She was out of line. It was a little harsh but she was definitely out of line. I can see the headlines, "72 year old great grandmother is wrestled to the ground by police officer when he tries to keep her from walking into oncoming traffic. OR "72 year old great grandmother is hit by a car as police officer fails to restrain her.

[Miss Mary]

Here's the shocking aspect of this case - her attitude.

You expect someone from her generation to have more respect for law enforcement. Maybe the officer expected her to respect him as well?

That still doesn't justify her behavior, his behavior. At some point, there didn't seem to be any common sense between the two of them, if you ask me.

You do something wrong and you're caught - you comply. If you're suspected of doing something wrong but you didn't - you still comply, until you can prove you are innocent.

Simple as that.

[vbhoutex]

Here's the shocking aspect of this case - her attitude.

You expect someone from her generation to have more respect for law enforcement. Maybe the officer expected her to respect him as well?

That still doesn't justify her behavior, his behavior. At some point, there didn't seem to be any common sense between the two of them, if you ask me.

You do something wrong and you're caught - you comply. If you're suspected of doing something wrong but you didn't - you still comply, until you can prove you are innocent.

Simple as that.

[Category 5]

Would be much easier to judge if there was a dashboard cam involved.

[x-y-no]

I'm always hesitant to pass judgement on these kind of events - police have a tough job yet we properly expect them to act with as much restraint as is consistent with their own safety and that of others.

The advent of the taser as a tool of law enforcement is a great thing because it offers an alternative to the use of a firearm. But the problem is that there isn't a well-defined line marking what use of a taser is appropriate. The original one - only use when you would otherwise use your firearm - seems too restrictive to me. A standard that a taser can be used any time one needs to physically control a subject seems too permissive. Unfortunately that leaves a big gray area and it's asking a lot of an officer in the middle of a stressful situation to resolve that on the spot.

I don't have an easy answer.

[artist]

there was cat 5. The raw one presented had actually been cut down and didn't look like she was quite a belligerant as she really was. I do think he could have said "Move back for safety" or whatever before shoving her so hard. I can't believe she behaved this way. The lack of respect was totally uncalled for and her trying to throw out I am 72, etc. was just ridiculous. I would hope we find she is on some meds that made her behave such a way. I like to hope her nature isn't this combative towards law enforcement, normally. And my son is currently going through the police academy and to think of what he will have to deal with is really scary.

[JonathanBelles]

Would be much easier to judge if there was a dashboard cam involved.

There is one somewhere. It was on the news yesterday, I just dont have a link.

[abajan]

Here's the shocking aspect of this case - her attitude...

No, the shocking aspect of this case is the taser.

[gtalum]

Unacceptable conduct by the officers, a stun gun to someone of that age could cause serious injury.

I'm no defender of the police, in general, but in this case the officer acted appropriately. I've seen the video. She resisted arrest, somewhat violently in fact. Regardless of your age, there's no excuse for resisting arrest. You fight the cops in the courtroom, not on the street.

[vbhoutex]

Unacceptable conduct by the officers, a stun gun to someone of that age could cause serious injury.

I'm no defender of the police, in general, but in this case the officer acted appropriately. I've seen the video. She resisted arrest, somewhat violently in fact. Regardless of your age, there's no excuse for resisting arrest. You fight the cops in the courtroom, not on the street.

*vb swooons* Once again we are somewhat in agreement. I have seen the video also, plus talked to a law officer who has seen the video. The woman was definitely resisting the officer and endangering both her life and his. Even though I am not sure the taser was necessary, the woman was clearly resisting while the officer was simply trying to get both of them away from fast moving traffic. As gtalum says, fight it in the court, not on the street. And as stated earlier, what happened to respect?

[HURAKAN]

Now police officers should carry with them tranquilizing darts for old people resisting arrest!!!!

That better than taser!!!

[OpieStorm]

If you can't get the arms of a 72 year old lady behind her back and cuffed without using a taser then you probably should be a mall cop. JMHO.