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By Kyle B. Hansen (contact) 
Saturday, Dec. 11, 2010 | 10:25 a.m.
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A man died Saturday morning after being arrested by Metro Police officers, who used an electronic control device to subdue the suspect, police said.
Police said an officer performed a traffic stop at 1:07 a.m. near the 1000 block of West Lake Mead Boulevard, near Martin L. King Boulevard in west Las Vegas.
While the officer was speaking to the vehicle’s driver, who was the only occupant, the driver tried to flee on foot.
The driver ran north across Lake Mead and jumped over a wall into the backyard of an abandoned residence in the 1000 block of Hart Avenue.
The officer followed the suspect into the backyard as other officers arrived. The officers attempted to take the suspect into custody, but he “aggressively resist(ed) the officers,” police said in a statement.
The officers used an electronic device on the suspect several times, police said.
The suspect was taken into custody and then officers noticed the man was in medical distress. The officers rendered aid to the suspect and summoned medical assistance, police said.
The suspect was transported to Valley Hospital, where he was pronounced dead after arriving, police said.
The suspect’s identity and cause of death will be released later by the Clark County Coroner’s office.
The officers involved in the incident have been placed on paid administrative leave. Their identity will be released 48 hours after the incident, per department policy.
Police did not release any details as to why the suspect’s vehicle was stopped or why they believe the man ran from the officer.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Metro’s Homicide Section at 828-3521 or Crime Stoppers at 385-5555 or at crimestoppersofnv.com.
Another violent fleeing felon bites the dust. Good work Metro.
The Taser had nothing to do with it. I'm going to assume the autopsy will read "death resulted from a heart attack from an enlarged heart caused by years of cocaine and other drug use." But the cops a nice scape goat huh rcknrllfreak?
The officers must have wanted a holiday vacation, i.e., "Paid administrative leave."
Another criminal scumbag off the streets. If you run from the police, you get what you deserve. Good job Metro.
If idiots would not run/fight/pull weapons on the police, this would not happen
"Another traffic-stop murder"
rcknrllfreak, you assume that the police were at fault here? What is your basis for your insightful analysis?
Or are you just a cretin that doesn't understand that it is a crime to run from the police, and folks that run from traffic stops are normally hiding bigger crimes?
The officers rendered aid to the suspect and summoned medical assistance...
lol
He got Tasered, not shot.
The autopsy will decide what is what in this case.
I am saying that if you run from the police, and fight with police to avoid arrest, you are asking to have force used against you. If that force (taser = less than lethal) then renders you dead,than you brought it upon yourself...If you comply, do not resist arrest, then you now get your due process.
He was running for a reason and not because he was some innocent random citizen in a traffic stop.
I cannot wait for the ACLU to get involved with this incident. They are the first to complain when a suspect is killed and "why didn't metro use some other means to subdue the suspect (like taser him/her). Now metro uses a taser and I am sure the ACLU will begin complaining about how they should not have tasered him or that they should have known that he probably had some condition that would have lead to his death because of tasering
"AND FOR EVERYONE WHO THINKS IT WON'T HAPPEN TO THEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING WRONG, YOU'LL BE METRO'S NEXT VICTIM"
Spoken like a guy that just recieved a ticket and is still upset....
No one said the police have a right to kill you because you run (but in some instances the law says they can) just that you are more likley to be injured/killed by police if you fail to comply with their instructions.
I know that I won't be the next idiot to be killed by police, because I understand that there are rules (laws) and I follow them...Especially the ones that say you have to comply with the police when they stop you.
I guarantee his cause of death will not be from the Taser. The think I hate is the coroner will list the Taser as a "contributing factor", but will not have any scientific evidence that it contributed in any way.
Lots of back seat drivers here blaming Metro once again.
If they had let him go and he committed a crime against you, you would have blamed Metro.
If Metro would have shot him, you would have blamed Metro.
Metro uses a taser instead of shooting the guy and you blame Metro.
No matter what Metro does many in this Valley are going to Blame Metro!
Metro did their job.
It's not rocket science. Stopped by police. Don't run. If you do they will chase you, tackle you, shackle you. If you resist they may taser or even shoot you to subdue you.
Don't run. You'll be fine.
These "electronic control devices" have cameras mounted on them -- why aren't their videos included in this report?
And speaking of reports -- where's the police report associated with this incident hiding?
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"electronic control device" is the name metro uses for the Taser, which is a trademarked name. Its the same thing.
Not all of the electronic control devices have cameras, so don't hold your breath waiting for video.
Wait for the investigation.
ghp2006, vegaslee -- what is exactly did this victim do to deserve being executed by our police?
Right. Think, then try another post.
"Fear is the foundation of most governments." - John Adams, 1776 "Thoughts on Government"
Oh, so sad. Another POS drain on society is dead. Ever think that maybe he shouldn't have ran from the police? How about instead of any kind of force they just throw feathers and ask pretty please to anybody that is showing any kind of resistance.
All of you that are bashing the police for doing their job are despicable. The police did not "kill" him. With the same certainty that you say they killed him, I can say he died because of all the years of drugs he did, his heart could not take all that physical activity of running from the police and hopping fences. All of you metro bashers are the same people that think everything is a conspiracy. Wake up people. Stop sniffing glue.
KillerB,
Maybe you should become a cop....Then you could hug lots of violent criminals and never use any force, but please don't ask for a taxpayer paid funeral.
A lot of dopes here on the side of the criminal. Just plain stupid......
Good job Metro, the jerk only had to comply with the officers request and he would be here today..One less scumbag for Las Vegas..
While use of a "Taser" may have been justified in this case, I have always considered using a Taser should be close to a last-resort for officers - especially"if there are several police officers on the scene.
I believe it preferable that police use their physical strength - and (hopefully trained in ) Martial Arts skills - to subdue unwilling "suspects." That is how it was in the days BEFORE Tasers were invented.
One of the reasons for creating Tasers was to reduce the need to use a gun. But "today" it is believed that we have criminals who exhibit excessive strength due to DRUG USE - which supposedly increases their strength and ability to resist physical constraint - and police officers are, apparently unable (or unwilling) to try to physically restrain the guy.
But what is lacking in a police officer's PHYSICAL or MARTIAL ARTS training that makes them either ill-equipped, or unable, to master such skills? Thus, the need to wind up having to use a Taser or a gun on unarmed suspects.
In martial arts demonstrations, you will note that this stuff WORKS! NO GUNS. A person so trained will be able to STOP someone "cold" - in their tracks; WHETHER ON DRUGS OR NOT. So why was a Taser in this case with other officers on the scene?
It is the DUTY of all police officers TO BECOME and REMAIN PHYSICALLY FIT - according to the standards established by the police department. Are the LVPD standards to lax, or not applied?
IN COMPARISON to Las Vegas, I wonder why such deadly "intervention ratios" by the police IN RENO, are not as pervasive as in Las Vegas. While RENO is a much smaller city, the potential to shoot an unarmed or fleeing "suspect" still exists with the individual police officer.
I believe it is time for a detailed review and subsequent revision - in policy, methods, training, and management - as to how police officers should conduct themselves, and react in apprehensions or other dangerous situations. Such training is needed to to protect people who have NOT YET BEEN FOUND GUILTY a crime. THAT is why the police call apparent criminals - "SUSPECTS.
Please note; my comments are not spurious. They are based on my personal experience working with state, federal and judicial enforcement systems, and several police departments, for over 25 years - where I have seen, help develop, or written such standards for law enforcement actions - with the necessary flexibility to act in the field - in dealing with criminals or agressive behavior.
Does the Las Vegas PD have effective standards and training programs to guide police actions in the field? If adequate, are such practices monitored, and enforced?
People are using terms like "executed by police".
Let's see, Metro makes a traffic stop, suspect runs, suspect is caught, suspect violently resists, Officer who is also armed with a gun instead chose electronic control device. Suspect dies.
If the cops had WANTED to kill him, they would have gone straight to their weopon, not the ECD.
The suspect caused his own death by his actions.
Can't fault the cops on this one. Innocent people don't run from the law, or resist.
Inkwell,
The adoption of the taser is first and foremost to reduce injuries to officers and suspects alike...If an officer is hurt on duty, not only are they not able to do their job, but it also costs the taxpayer money for their medical bills. Sadly a criminals drug use takes a toll on his body...Damage to their heart from that and the adrenaline rush from running and fighting with police is too much for their heart to take...Not the fault of cops.
In years past, "pre taser" not only were officers hurt subduing criminals, but many more offenders were injured due to the physical altercation...
Much fewer injuries are incurred now with the taser and pepper spray use, than the old ways...
And if officers were highly trained in "martial arts" can you imagine the ALCU sueing because now an officer's body os a weapon?
With cops killing people while laying on their back like Oscar Grant in CA, and with other countless occurrences available on youtube, people at this point fear for their lives when dealing with police.
Some people freak out and run, its natural reaction for some people.
This person certainly didnt do anything to warrant a death sentence. Resisting arrest is not a death penalty in any state law or federal law.
The officer won't be charged and probably shouldn't. The one thing that has to end is tasers. They are not a safe alternative and have killed countless people. At this point they are no different than a gun, at least with a gun cops generally think twice about using them.
Cops think citizens are out of control.
Citizens think cops are out of control.
A Government that is completely out of control.
Do we all see where this is headed? My guess, it's not going to be in the citizens best interest.
News of a Metro caused death has almost become a weekly, if not sooner, occurance. Sumpin' is not right.
Choices!! this is what it boils down to. You get stopped by any PD do as you are told. Choices! the PD tells you to get down, then get down. Choices! remember, the #1 thing "DO AS YOU ARE TOLD" your actions brings on the reaction and I will guarantee you, YOU WILL LOSE!!!
Sandy99: "Sumpin' is not right"?? What IS right is (1) Metro doesn't fool around (so don't do the crime) and (2) Metro does a great job finding the criminal(s) after a crime has happened (look at how fast they catch the slime balls in LV - whether they be murderers, thieves or rock art destroyers). My hat's off to these guys and gals in the LV uniform. Keep up the good work, ladies and gentlemen.
Bottom line: don't run from the cops! Nice shooting Metro.
"IN COMPARISON to Las Vegas, I wonder why such deadly "intervention ratios" by the police IN RENO, are not as pervasive as in Las Vegas. While RENO is a much smaller city, the potential to shoot an unarmed or fleeing "suspect" still exists with the individual police officer."
I could tell you about the difference in LV vs. Reno, but I'd get banned.
Next quote:
" the PD tells you to get down, then get down. Choices! remember, the #1 thing "DO AS YOU ARE TOLD" your actions brings on the reaction and I will guarantee you, YOU WILL LOSE!!!"
That's what rapists say. Nice club to join.
@ DevilDog - I agree that the use of the Taser may have been justified in this case. I also agree that the "runner" should not have run away after a "traffic stop." Maybe the guy had something to hide; maybe he stole the car; maybe he had drugs on him .... and maybe he was just scared.
My point is that several officers were on the scene: "...The officers attempted to take the suspect into custody, but he "aggressively resist(ed)...." So, supposedly, they tried to subdue the guy but for reasons we do not know, they decided to zap him with a Taser - rather than just get him to the ground and even just "sit" on him.
The law is written - pursuant to the U.S. Constitution - and ultimately, how to deal with suspects, obvious criminals, jail prisoners, etc. But unconvicted "suspects"are still citizens of this country, and deserve to be handled with FIRM restraint, but non-lethal force.
In this case, while lethal force was not used, or seemingly intended - I do not believe it was necessary to Taser the guy - ONLY BECAUSE (THE ARTICLE SAYS) THERE WERE MORE POLICE OFFICERS THERE (to help).
As for the ACLU, they have their own agenda, which I suggest is NOT in the best interest of public (or police officer) safety. You disobey the law, you deserve to get caught, by whatever equal or superior force, and reasonable means, as becomes necessary.
Final point. Police officers are hired, and sworn, to protect citizens and uphold the law. In the course of performing such duties (at law) an officer is given training and tolls (yes, a Taser and a gun) to ensure such enforcement is possible.
So, if workouts in the gym to build muscle and give officers an advantage - such as martial arts would do (even at a minimal level of skill) - what is the difference between using such (potentially - but not necessarily lethal) skills for officers to subdue an agressive person, if it is necessary to avoid further conflict and injury (as you pointed out).
After all, a police officer is "licensed to use any weapon available" - as becomes necessary - uphold the law, to prevent a crime, to protect the life of a citizen, and even to protect themselves. As you are aware, this is not a contest. It is law enforcement", with the emphisis on the word "law."
For the record, I would not inhibit, nor reduce, the skills or capabilities needed by any police officer in the LEGAL and NECESSARY performance of his duty.
Who's to say 6 officers grappling with this guy to bring him under control would have saved his life vs. A taser?
He could have just as easily died from that confrontation as he did from getting tasered.
Bottom line. Don't run from police.
@Serfattack
Are you kidding? Running from police is a natural reaction? Maybe for criminals, not law abiding citizens. Once you run, evade, resist...your life is in danger. Are people really that thick that they cannot comprehend this?
Inkwell,
If an officer, or several officers go "hands on" with a suspect, the propensity for injury to any or all is greater than if a "non lethal" tool is used.
How many times do we see on the news, that two or three officers go hands on, and they end up working against each other, to ge the suspects hands behind them. Not to mention that it really looks horrible on TV for several cops to subdue a suspect.
This is not a lack of training, it is because when you have an "adrenaline dump" small motor skills diminsh, vision and hearing also are not at 100%.
Using a Taser, the suspect usually falls to the ground, and while on th eground, officer can issue commands and even handcuff them whil they are actually being tased.
You cannot hold an officer at fault for chasing some coked out scumbag, that has ruined his body, runs from a traffic stop, then decides to fight, when he gets tased and then his heart explodes from the stress of his actions.
You argument that officers should be trained in martial arts, or work out in the gym, while in theory might be ok, but are you going to pay the officer for spending his time in the gym? You pay firemen for going to the gym, and shopping and everything else.
Police work can be very stressful, and while a workout can reduce stress, so does spending time with family and friends. So unless you want to reduce the hours an officer works, and allow them to go to the gym on duty, or pay some type of compensation, not to mention the membership costs of a gym, then forcing workouts is not an option.
After several use's of the tazer! I'm wondering if they just didnt get pissed off enough that they wanted to see this guy jump a bit more after the first time?You people have a big problem with your police force,and if something isnt done with your current man in charge no one will be visiting your city much longer!I live over 1300 miles away now,and anything your police dept does makes our news cast's on the very first few mins.Infact it's kinda funny how they start the stories out too,like refering to your fine officers as the new Barney Phifes!Nothing short of a laughing stock!And this comment is comeing from an ex badge!
No rumrunner,
we don't have a problem with the police, we have a huge influx of 2 strike criminals from California that are avoiding the "3rd strike and you do life."
More and more violent criminals are moving to Las Vegas, making this community a more violent place to live and work.
Believe it or not, we have one of the best trained police departments in the country, other departments use our academy training as a model, and have incorporated much or the training in their agencies.
Unless we get our courts to put these violent felons and their ilk away for much longer, we are going to see more violence against police and citizens.
If these criminals will fight with police, what do you think they will do to us citizens.
At least Metro didn't shoot the man
Was it not the duty of this unarmed suspect to face his allegations in a court of law?
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Gotta get him to court to face those charges Harley. Can just ask them nicely to go, that may even been what he was running from. We'll know soon enough.
Year to date, how many black eyes thus far are attributed to Metro?
In fairness, should we recognized the countless lives they have saved but goes unpublished?
He shouldn't have run; plain and simple. There are consequences for illegal actions. It sucks that he died, but no one made him resist arrest and run.
@ DevilDog - Thanks for your comments. I understand that things required of a police officer - such as physical restraint of suspects - is a hard job. But I also know that one does not become a police officer to sit behind a desk. If I were a police officer, confronting someone that I am supposed to stop from doing something - I would make damm sure I could do so.
Thus, in my exerience with the police officers of the Fairfax County Virginia, they were pretty good shape BEFORE they joined the force, and they got better as their career, and time, permittted. As they told me, bulking up was not a macho thing, but ensuring they were able to "protect and to serve" - to do their dangerous job - and go home in one piece.
Maybe going to the gym is not something some police officers look forward to, or even see as necessary. But does that, then, make them more susceptible to using lethal force in situations they don't feel able to handle?
I am not a cop. But I go to the gym (all my life) - to exercise my cardiovascular system (ask your doctor about the need for everyone to do this), to increase my metabolism, stamina, strength - - and sense of well being. Basically, all just to live well. As a result, I FEEL like I am able to TAKE CARE OF MYSELF, and my family - in almost any situation that might arise.
The NRA's Armed Citizen will attest to the need for all Americans to be able to have self-protection. And since the law provides for it, I also have a gun to assist me in doing so.
So, with all I do as a CIVILIAN, why should I expect LESS from a police officer sworn to protect me from harm? The phrase comes to mind: "if you can't handle the heat, get out of the kitchen."
Further, it is not right that one officer should put another officer at risk just because they are not physically fit to defend them selves. That is part of the job - to be able to RESPOND to a physical threat from the bad guys.
Bottom line: I do not believe that police officers - or anyone in any other profession who needs physical strength (like a steel worker, or oil rig worker, a construction worker, etc.) - should have to time off of work to take care of themselves. As NIKE says: JUST DO IT!
Tazering someone "several" times amounts to death by electrocution. Oh well, it's holiday time and some cops want their paid time off to be with their families.
KillerB,
No one was "executed."
I suggest looking up the Definition of a word before using it.
Socratic,
You can be in the best shape of your life but if you run into a person who is also in good shape and outweighs you by 50 pounds and has equal skills, you will lose the fight. Police officers go into every situation to win, bottom line. They are given the tools to win and escalate the use of force when necessary. Verbal commands are effective over 90 percent of the time. When a suspect chooses to not obey those commands, police are trained to escalate the use of force which is necessary to control the situation up to and including deadly force. If this suspect had ran and killed someone when he got away, every person on here would ask why he was not tased to stop him. Why don't you address female officers in your argument? Should they be able to use a taser when confronting a large man or woman? Or should they just join the gym also?
I for one wish i would have had a teaser a little while ago when I got cold cocked for no reason. when i asked the guy what i did his response was that i looked at him. come on all it is getting to the point where we need to stop putting metro down and let them do their job.
And the bad thing is that the guy got away and metro said they would try and find him but unless they do nothing will be done.
@ johnmanrules - To your question: "Why don't you address female officers in your argument?"
Well, I was tempted to, but declined because I did not want to set myself up for outcries of "male chauvinism" - or, being seen as advocating the use of a Taser when I have already said I am not a big fan of this device. Why?
Because its use has killed many people - and justification for continued use cannot, I submit, be at the expense - or espoused philosophy - of saving others.
There are alternatives. While it is easy to stand back and Taser someone by pulling a trigger, Police have verbal comands, physical strength, tear gas, pepper spray, batons, rubber bullets, handcuffs, etc., to use - before they need to decide on using a Taser, or a gun.
I recognize that being in the field is different than talking this subject in this column. But just because we value a single human life - if a Taser WERE A TOY, the government would have taken it off the market already.
So, in a political climate where social preferences exist as to who can do what - there can be no logical, rationale, or successful argument presented IN THIS FORUM - pro or con - that would make such a discussion useful.
Besides, if female officers choose NOT to go to a gym to build strength and endurance, they are only doing themselves a disservice, and endangering their health and longevity.
Further, they are also not improving their ability to help their fellow officers in time of need, or help prevent harm to citizens who look to police officers for help.
I'm sure this is Not the answer you expected, but...
The question is whether or not excessive force was used. Did the officers continue to tase the victim after he was subdued or not?
The problem is that Las Vegas does not allow cases of excessive force to really be investigated. There are no dash cams and unless an officer honestly admits a mistake, they'll walk. And after hearing the falsified police accounts of the Scott, Cole and Manor cases, I don't place much faith in Metro's honesty.
Why was the guy running from the Police? If you make yourself easily handcuffable, then your in custody at minimum. If you resist, then rather than getting kicked in the teeth by the suspect, you, as the Police Officer, subdues this individual by tazing him, who was not helping his own cause, by running--It's COMMON SENSE! Unfortunately, the guy died. If nothing unorthodox surfaces, then the cops did what they had to do. What if the suspect is bigger and stronger than the officer? That puts the officer, his weapon and his life at risk. Great job METRO!
The evidence suggests this incident was just another fatal travesty in Metro's inability to apprehend suspects' in a safe manner -- an improper application of lethal force?
More field testing/training required?
Was pursuit absolutely necessary in this situation?
Where's the videos?
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Running from police WILL GET YOU KILLED, but that doesn't mean we should be just accept yet another death at the hands of police. Instead of spending so much time defending themselves over the killing of our neighbors, perhaps we should look at ways for cops to kill less people. With no underlying felony and not immiediate risk of harm, running from police is NOT A JUSTIFIABLE reason to kill. But even if a death is legally justifiable that doesn't make it right.
No officer will ever have to make the choice to testify at the inquests if they just stop killing people. Unfortunately, even reducing the about of police caused deaths is something the cops in Las Vegas don't even want to consider. Our annual police involved deaths are out of wack for our size and crime rate. Even if the such deaths are justifiable, there is no reasons our cops should be killing at a higher rate than in other cities. But don't suggest better training, because Metro says they have nothing left to learn.
While taser use is better than shooting a suspect, a two-year study published by the Houston Chronicle in 2007 found that use of Tasers had not reduced police shootings and in fact HALF of "the people tased never ended up being charged with a crime at all." In other words half of those tased did nothing illegal and were tased as a result of police frustration.
A Metro spokesperson said the Clark County coroner had never found Taser use to be the cause of death....[they] were narcotics or heart problems." Once again Metro will lie to our face in order to avoid accountability. No officer, I didn't kill him, I just stuck a knife in his chest and it was his underlying anemic condition that kept his blood from clotting, so I can't hold be responsible.
Don't run from cops and you won't get killed. Absolutelt!! Add that to the list of other things that will get you shot or killed by a cop...
"Don't hide in the Bathroom"
"Don't open your door to see what's going on outside."
"Don't come to help translate for your husband."
"Don't jaywalk with a basketball"
"Don't be a mexican walking alone on the street"
"Don't be homeless."
"Don't 'fool' police by complying with their commands, getting on your knees and holding your hands above your head."
"Don't walk into your own bedroom while a cop is having sex with your wife."
Shouldn't have run from the police. Well, that's that. Next.
Uh yeah...let me translate the BS that the Gorman grad posted.
"Don't hide in the Bathroom" really means "Don't run in the bathroom to flush your dope down the toilet when the police execute a search warrant on your house."
"Don't open your door to see what's going on outside."-left alone for now...pretty vague
"Don't come to help translate for your husband." means "Don't come hold a knife to your child's throat in front of armed police officers."
"Don't jaywalk with a basketball" means "Don't reach suddenly into your waistband to throw away your precursor chemicals for your meth lab"
"Don't be a mexican walking alone on the street"-vague
"Don't be homeless."-vague
"Don't 'fool' police by complying with their commands, getting on your knees and holding your hands above your head."-If this is the one with the rifle shot to the back...I have NO ARGUMENT on this one. The officer should have gone to prison.
"Don't walk into your own bedroom while a cop is having sex with your wife." means "Don't enter the house of your estranged wife when you no longer live there and don't have permission to enter (especially at 1:15am)"
@RowdyYates...If we must be sticklers for facts then ...."when the police execute a search warrant on your house." means, "when police excute search warrant that was fraudulently obtained by an officer with a history purjury to obtain search warrants without causde, therefore negating any right the police had to enter you home in the dead on night in the first place"
"Don't reach suddenly into your waistband to throw away your precursor chemicals for your meth lab" means "don't grab the perfectly legal item used to purify water while an cop, whose fellow officers were afraid to work with him, and was known to be a "threat to public safety, who regularly flaunted constitutional safeguards intended to protect citizens against the use of excessive force" and had recklessly pulled his gun on at least two other residents and told both unarmed men that he had almost shot them.:
"when you no longer live there and don't have permission to enter " means "even though neighbors saw you come and go at will, have a key, have not been presented with a restraining order and there is a video less than a week old that shows all this to be true, your death will let your adulterous wife and her untrustworthy lover say say you didn't have permission and their story will not be held up to the normal standards required for self defense claim."
Even with the changes you provided, none of those actions are punishable by death. The Constitution protects all citizens (even criminals) from police abuses. If you don't like that, then there is a very clear method to amending the constitution so the the bill of rights only applies to the people you find socially acceptable, because what is the harm of killing a scum bag anyway?
When police officers abuse their authority, the people stop respecting that authority, and the result is an unalterable disruption in power structure. Disruptions in power structures always result in compromised safety for both police and populace.
As a result criminals act more boldly and with less fear of consequences. This leads to more shootouts and more car chases, which opens the door to innocent people dying or suffering wounds as the result of either bullets flying or cars crashing into them.
It's naive to think even the most law abiding citizen is immune to the dangers of abusive police officers.
taxpayers get out you wallets. The French guy got 1/2 a million.
Tazer has quite a legal department to make sure settlements are kept secret.
Besafe... here's some "STAT", Jethro, 50,000 volts x seven times equals MURDER!! Get it? 350,000 thousand volts will kill anyone. Get it? You don't have a problem, because you like killing people too!! What are YOU looking for, some paid time off to go home to mommy and daddy for Christmas?? Give me a break!!
Here is a made up scenario, let's say for a movie scene..A rogue cop stops a car in a black neighborhood that he hates to be stationed in..This cop is famous for beating the crap out of his suspects..The suspect is ordered out of the vehicle and he immediately recognizes the cop who had trashed him before..He sees a chance to run and he takes it..The cop knowing that shooting unarmed suspects is not very fashionable these days, takes out his tazer and fires at least two times, bringing the suspect down who then dies..Now, who gets to tell the story? The cop or the dead suspect? Anyway,this is just a made up scene for a B movie..We know our police are always JUSTIFIED in their actions..Just ask the coroner's inquest people..
seven hills is noticably absent from this discussion. Was it him that got tasered?
BeSafe..We know that there could never be a cop like that on the Metro force..Our cops are perfect in every way..I'm sure if all the dead people could get up and speak, they would say "we deserved it we deserved it"..Yep, I did see Shreck thank you..
Metro has secretly modified the tasers (ramping up the amps) to kill ...for Charles Bronson death wish - star chamber reasons...
The suspect new he was going to die...and made a run for it..
It comes down to the training these officers are getting. In the last few years the Taser has been emphasized way too much. In doing so these agencies have lulled these officers into believing the Taser is the answer for almost any situation. The departments and Taser are to blame. These officers are trying to not get hurt in a fight but you are going to get hurt if you fight a perp. My agency never got them and I liked it. I'll take pepper spray and a baton over a Taser anyday.
Also, that guy took off because A)He had warrants B) He had something on him or in the car he wasn't supposed to or C) The car was stolen. That's why he ran. I'm sure he wasn't a square that just got nervous.
Saying that I don't think the guy deserved to die and I don't think the Metro was trying to kill the guy. It's just a sad series of events.
If a person has a heart attack while running away from Police or resisting arrest, the responsibility is clear. An autopsy will tell.
@bghs1986
You make it sound like Metro officers are routinely shaking down people for bribes and taking liberties with with women with statements like;
~~~"When police officers abuse their authority, the people stop respecting that authority, and the result is an unalterable disruption in power structure"~~~I for one have found a whole new level of "respect" when comforted by metro these last few months. Its not that hard to show your hands and comply. HEY, that just gave me a new idea for Metro's new slogan. Instead of to protect and to serve how about painting this on cop cars...to stay alive is to comply. ,,ok maybe not
Using this article to base my decision, if the story is entirely correct:
I usually don't side with Metro on most of the police shootings. This was not a deadly-force shooting.
This was an attempt to avoid deadly force and subdue an uncooperative suspect. If the suspect hadn't run there would have been no need.
The stun-gun method doesn't always seem to be doing its job, there are often negative side effects. That's not Metro's fault. That is a design problem.
Metro justified.
Next!
mred; this happened near Martin L. King Boulevard, shouldn't we rename this "Z" Street?
KillerB; could you get me another cup of coffee, please?
...A 2008 study by Amnesty International concluded that Las Vegas led U.S. cities in deaths involving law enforcement use of Tasers. The study found that between June 2001 and August 2008, seven people died after Tasers were used on them...lvrj
Should a commission be established to determine if 7 is excessive or not?
Is there any cause for concern?
They took the life from a guy for what? What had the fella been convicted of doing?
In third world countries like Indonesia, they (police) shoot people for what in the mind of the police officer appears to be really a bad thing, like posesssion of an ounce of pot. That's right, the officer pulls his gun and blows the guy away for holding an ounce of weed.
In Vegas, they don't even need to see the buds. Just a runner gets the death penalty. No inquiry, no due process, just final death. "He seemed guilty," the logical conclusion of the officer of death, doing his job - serving and protecting.
How many of the cop bashers on this site are willing to go 'hand to hand' with a suspect in this day and age of medical conditions like A.I.D.S.?
"Wonder if they would feel the same if the felon had just assaulted or raped your daughter or wife"!By ghp2006 (Al Morgan)- and you know the victim was a felon because you said so. Please. read the whole story before you spew your filth Is it hard being stupid? as for "vegaslee" first a police force is only as good as the people who are wise and professional at there job. Most of Metro are young, scared pups. lets see what happens in 10 years when these pups grow and become wiser. Las Vegas is a small town compared to say Los Angeles a city 10 times the size, yet the officer per suspect death ratio is much lower. please do your homework before putting your foot in your mouth.
I m gonna buy one of those C2 Tasers in pink to carry for self defense now.
No one will laugh at my pink Taser in Las Vegas me thinks..
Metro answers thousands of calls 24/7 with the amount of physical contact that they have to encounter on a daily basis the stun gun is an aid to reduce injury both to officers and felon. With as many times as they use it yes sometimes things go wrong not because of the officers. Thanks Metro for doing your job right, there are people who appreciate your efforts to control the crime in all of our neighborhoods. Again thank you and keep up the GREAT WORK and stay safe.
@ACSLTER=---"there has yet to be one proven death with the use of the taser on a healthy individual"
Perhaps you shou'ld "know what you are talking about!" before running off on the mouth.
In April 2oo9, Michael Patrick Jacobs Jr, died after being Tazed several times by Fort Worth police. An autopsy concluded that the primary cause of death was "sudden death during neuromuscular incapacitation due to application of a conducted energy device." No traces of alcohol or drugs, electrolyte imbalances, or signs of heart or lung disease were found.
It would be nice to have at least one of you guys lapping up the spilled blood of Metro to at least base your opinions on accurate facts.
airweare,
The police stopped a vehicle for some reason (crime #1) then suspect flees (crime #2) when confronted after jumping several walls, "aggressively resists" arrest (crime #3)
Officers try to use less than lethal force on suspect, who is tased several times (taser does not work on all people, and sometimes multiple applications are required to achieve the desired compliance.)
Officers handcuff suspect, and then see he is in distress, render first aid and summon medical...
Suspect get taken to hospital where he dies....
What part of this is police acting as "judge, jury and executioner?"
What did the police do wrong in this case?
People want the police to catch bad guys, but don't want them to use force.
Too bad the same people don't want the bad guys held accountable for their actions.
Police work is dangerous, but you don't want the cops to protect themselves....
When they do, lots of folks who have never been cops just have to Monday morning quaterback them....GET REAL, you were not there, so you have no clue what happened, and with the few facts given in this article, we as untrained civilians cannot make a true and just judgement....That will be the inquest panel and D.A.'s job.
bghs,
You say that there was 1 confirmed taser death....1 in Texas....Never has there been a "confirmed" taser death in Nevada. 1 confirmed death from how many thousands of applications...And in that 1 case, what were the other factors that were contributed? Bet the guy was not a healthy person, probably also had a bad heart, or years of drug/alcohol abuse....Did you research that?
You obviously have an axe to grind with police, and have absolutly no police experience/training, and probably no military experience/training either...
Did you gete a ticket once, get your car towed or maybe get a ticket for possession?
You bitch about the cops all the time, so I'm guessing you have some sort of underlying agenda.
@devildog...I understand that in your tiny mind having a bad cop experience in the only reason for someone to want a better police force, but I assure you that isn't the case. Perhaps before you call me out, you take the time to actually read my posts.
Acslater made a claim that was untrue. I was simply pointing that out. And in my post it was clearly stated that during the man's autopsy, "No traces of alcohol or drugs, electrolyte imbalances, or signs of heart or lung disease were found."
Without any evidence to back you up you prattle on, "Bet the guy was not a healthy person, probably also had a bad heart, or years of drug/alcohol abuse." Much like officer Yant, forensics and facts are too burdensome to you if they mean you have to change your closed mind.
My 'agenda' has never been underlying. I have been very upfront. I don't like LE to lie to the public. I don't like LE to continue to employ cops they know to be dishonest and dangerous. I don't like cops stepping on the rights that so many died to assure we all have.
You see, freedom is a hobby of mine, and I have the means to dedicate my life to doing everything I can to make sure that people get more of it."
So tell me again what you have against a free society and a police force that doesn't lie and does its best to assure that everyone (even suspected criminals) are afforded the rights that so many died for. I could just guess and make blanket accusations about your hatred for truth. But then name calling is the refuge of those with nothing to back up their claims.
And remember the person who determines of the county owned taser killed someone is a county employee. Now, if you could point to an impeccable history of honesty from all involved, I would agree without hesitation, despite this enormous conflict of interest. But since you can't defend the honesty of Metro, then I must have had my car towed.
@aclater....and is states that where in the Constitution? And why don't you insist that police who break the law suffer those same consequences?