My original thoughts on this YouTube clip were ones of amusement, but after re-watching the video and reading up on Tasers, I think the officers could have handled the situation a little differently. UCLA student Mostafa Tabatabainejad refused to stand up for the officers escorting him out of the school library, swore at the cops and got Tasered at least four times. He deserved it, but I think dragging him out would have been more effective.
According to Taser’s official Web site, “TASER systems use proprietary technology to immediately incapacitate dangerous, combative or high-risk individuals who pose a risk to law enforcement officers, innocent citizens or themselves.” By the cops’ own press release, the suspect went limp and refused to exit.
That’s obnoxious and illegal, but it’s not posing a threat. If he was indeed violent with the officers — the video doesn’t show the whole situation, and one source in the article says they thought he might be armed — they did the right thing, but otherwise it’s a bit much. The situation started when the cops were doing a routine ID check because the library is students-only after 11 p.m. Apparently the individual wouldn’t show the card.
Michelle Malkin has comments here.
Of course, this comes on the heels of another controversial “police brutality” video. I blogged about that incident here.
Robert VerBruggen blogs at http://robertsrationale.blogspot.com/.
UPDATE: “Even the company that makes the stun gun, Taser International, urges caution about use of the weapon in the “drive-stun” mode and with repeated shocks.” The officers used that mode. The more I learn, the more my outrage goes from the out-of-control student to the look-I’m-a-real-cop campus security.
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