Cops tazer Deaf man. Is this tazer shit getting out of hand?

[Chevillac 5,000+ posts]

Just getting out of the shower. How could he possibly have a gun on him?

http://www.kwch.com/global/story.asp?s=7446220

Donnell Williams had just gotten out of the bath tub, wearing only a towel around his waist, when he turned the corner to see guns pointing right at him.

"I ain't never been so scared," says Williams.

Police forced entry into Williams home while responding to a shooting, but it turned out to be a false call. They had no idea at the time the call wasn't real and that Williams is hearing impaired. Without his hearing aid he is basically deaf.

"I kept going to my ear yelling that I was scared. I can't hear! I can't hear!"

Officers were worried about their own safety because at the time it appeared Williams was refusing to obey their commands to show his hands. That's when they shot him with a Taser.

Deputy Chief Robert Lee of the Wichita Police Department says, "This one occurred on the worst of calls, that being a shooting. The first few minutes getting control of the scene are very, very important."

Once the facts were all sorted out, officers repeatedly apologized to Williams. Police wish it never happened, but with the information they had at the time, their choices were limited.

"Do I wish there would have been some way they were notified in advance this gentleman was hearing impaired? I certainly do. No one is happy with the way it worked out," says Lee.

Williams was not hurt in the incident. Police say the shooting call came from a cell phone but they still don't know who made it or why.

The case is being reviewed by the department.

Click to read more...

 

[95ZJ 10+ year member]

I'd be suing.

 

[SRim23 5,000+ posts]

what ever happened to the good old fashioned take down? i mean shouldnt the taser only be used if the cop feels threatened and cant immobilize the man? cops are getting extremely lazy these days!

it almost makes you want to go to police academy and ask why all the physical tests are being done lol ive got a taser what do i need to be in shape for lol

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

Those **** police act like that taser doesn't hurt...

I guess it's better than shooting but they need something that is not as injurous in the case of a wrongful shooting.

 

[TylerBD12 10+ year member]

yeah x2 on the suing! that shit is getting out of hand, they're tasering EVERYONE now-a-days!

 

[davesexplorer 10+ year member]

Shit happens.

 

[kickerlivinloud 10+ year member]

How in hell were they so posed to know? God forbid the cops try and perfect themselves. They do use non-lethal weapons for a reason.

All the cops knew was that the suspect was not following their commands and they acted accordingly. Not like the cops knew and purposely tazed him to hurt him.

Jon

 

[Racerx250 10+ year member]

By the time I got done suing, I'd have enough money to buy a small island.

 

[Chevillac 5,000+ posts]

Those **** police act like that taser doesn't hurt...
I guess it's better than shooting but they need something that is not as injurous in the case of a wrongful shooting.

Exactly. In this case they could have just taken him down. Its a wet ***** man with a towel. Yes id be hesitant to touch him too, but that is their job. He obviously didnt have a weapon.

I bet if he was holding a bar of soap they would have shot him.

 

[Chevillac 5,000+ posts]

How in hell were they so posed to know? God forbid the cops try and perfect themselves. They do use non-lethal weapons for a reason.


All the cops knew was that the suspect was not following their commands and they acted accordingly. Not like the cops knew and purposely tazed him.

Jon

He was getting out of the ****ing shower, are you kidding me? I dont know what you shower with, but I shower with soap and a wash cloth. Nothing that would even remotely be considered a weapon.

 

[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

Don't taze me bro!

 

[Chevillac 5,000+ posts]

Don't taze me bro!

in sign language....

 

[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

He was getting out of the ****ing shower, are you kidding me? I dont know what you shower with, but I shower with soap and a wash cloth. Nothing that would even remotely be considered a weapon.

Remember that scene from Full Metal Jacket? That could be considered a weapon.

 

[SRim23 5,000+ posts]

Those **** police act like that taser doesn't hurt...
I guess it's better than shooting but they need something that is not as injurous in the case of a wrongful shooting.

my friend is a sherriffs deputy and before he was allowed to have one he had to be shot by one.......i know every officer in lorain county ohio knows what it feels like....

 

[kickerlivinloud 10+ year member]

He was getting out of the ****ing shower, are you kidding me? I dont know what you shower with, but I shower with soap and a wash cloth. Nothing that would even remotely be considered a weapon.

One does not need a weapon to be dangerious. Either way, they were responding to a "shooting" and prepared for the worse. Again, the report says the man was not injured, yea it may of hurt for a while but in the end no damage was done.

Jon