96 Taser-Related Deaths in the United States
Today we added Adam Colliers (Gold Bar, WA) as the 96th taser-death on our list since January 2009. Something is wrong in America when the police electrocute folks on a WEEKLY basis with their taser arsenal ... and the public is mute in its response.
25-year old Adam Colliers was unarmed and he weighed about 120 pounds. However, two Snohomish County Sheriff's deputies didn't want to get dirty or be patient ... they pulled out their taser guns and electrocuted Colliers to death in the front yard of the house he was staying at in Gold Bar WA.
This is the 3rd taser-killing in Washington since this blog began tracking extra-judicial electrocutions in America ... and the second Washington state taser-related death in the past week.
Tasers are now deployed in law enforcement agencies in 29 of the 33 largest U.S. cities.
However, the tide may be turning. As taser-related deaths and injuries have continued to rise (as well as the amount of Taser litigation), many departments are starting to abandon the weapon in favor of other means of suspect control. Currently, Memphis, Tennessee, San Francisco, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada have opted to ban the use of tasers by law enforcement. Additionally, a federal court has ruled that the pain inflicted by the taser gun constitutes excessive force by law enforcement. The courts don't want police to electrocute people with their tasers unless they pose an immediate threat.
Link:
http://electronicvillage.blogspot.com/2009/05/taser-related-deaths-in-united-states.html
No comments:
Post a Comment