Homicide by taser

[Guest]

A Winter Haven man's death has been ruled a homicide by a medical examiner, after the subject was tased by Orlando Police during an incident at CityWalk. The subject was tased multiple times by Orlando Police while 4 officers attempted to subdue him. One of the bursts lasted 31 seconds, which is way too long according to experts.

Better read todays Ledger and be careful about pulling that taser to quickly and using it for too long. Your butt could be the next one on the hot seat. I do hope Grady makes sure everyone is well trained on procedures when using a taser, as it can be deadly in some instances. It is not a toy, as many of you think.

[Guest]

You know what, blow me! The Ledger article has more holes in it than a wheel of swiss cheese. It presents more questions than answers, and only sensationalizes the use of Tasers. The autopsy report appears to be flawed, and conflicts with eye witness accounts. The "expert" isn't from the Taser Corporation, so what makes him an expert, his own opinion? It's very unfortunate that this poor guy died, but it appears to be more due to his weight and enlarged heart, than being tased. The autopsy shows no drugs or alcohol in his system, yet they talk about excited delitium which is usually drug induced. He went to City Walk to celebrate his birthday, but there were no drugs or alcohol in him? Come on!! His friends and neighbors describe him as an easy going guy, but the friend that was with him at City Walk left early because he saw the victim was "headed for trouble". But no drugs or alcohol? Plenty of people saw him walking around with no shoes, behaving in an odd manner. He assaulted an employee there, but he wasn't on drugs or alcohol. Give me a break! He's not drunk or high, but he decides to fight off 4 cops? Doesn't quite fit the image of someone who's "easy going". It's too bad he died, but it wasn't the taser that killed him. More likely the crap in his system that the autopsy missed.

[Guest]

You know what, blow me! The Ledger article has more holes in it than a wheel of swiss cheese. It presents more questions than answers, and only sensationalizes the use of Tasers. The autopsy report appears to be flawed, and conflicts with eye witness accounts. The "expert" isn't from the Taser Corporation, so what makes him an expert, his own opinion? It's very unfortunate that this poor guy died, but it appears to be more due to his weight and enlarged heart, than being tased. The autopsy shows no drugs or alcohol in his system, yet they talk about excited delitium which is usually drug induced. He went to City Walk to celebrate his birthday, but there were no drugs or alcohol in him? Come on!! His friends and neighbors describe him as an easy going guy, but the friend that was with him at City Walk left early because he saw the victim was "headed for trouble". But no drugs or alcohol? Plenty of people saw him walking around with no shoes, behaving in an odd manner. He assaulted an employee there, but he wasn't on drugs or alcohol. Give me a break! He's not drunk or high, but he decides to fight off 4 cops? Doesn't quite fit the image of someone who's "easy going". It's too bad he died, but it wasn't the taser that killed him. More likely the crap in his system that the autopsy missed.

Well thank you for you non expert medical opinion. And believe it or not, there are many of us that can celebrate a special occasion without having to drink alcohol. Unfortunately, the other half, (which must include yourself since your so adamant he had to have been doing drugs or alcohol because he was celebrating his birthday for petes sake), have to have some form of alcohol to celebrate anything. And I guess the m.e. just didn't find either in his system because.... And as far as blowing you, dude, maybe you should hang at the park a little more for someone to help you out with that. Unfortunately, you sound as if your one of those who like to abuse the taser, Karma is a b%^%$.

[Guest]

I don't drink, d$#@head. But I know how a taser operates. If he wasn't high or drunk, then explain what was wrong with him. Any sort of stroke or brain injury would have shown up in the autopsy. If there was some medical reason for his strange behavior, that sure isn't in the article. Just because someone knows how to use a taser, doesn't make them an abuser. You don't know what you're talking about. The taser is the best non-lethal tool provided to law enforcement in the last 100 years. It's kept cops and citizens from many trips to the hospital that would have otherwise been unavoidable. 87000 deployments speak for themselves. If someone wants to fight, I would much rather tase them that smack them around with a metal pipe. The tase hurts for a few seconds. That pipe leaves a more lasting impression. Don't resist, and nobody has to feel any discomfort at all.

[Guest]

Another one going to die from taser, again....How many people have to die before they deem the taser a lethal weapon?

[vizator]

How many people have to die in a car crash before they deem it a leathal weapon? While it is unfortunate that this guy died there has to be more to the story behind his erratic condition. Underlying mental condition? Synthetic drug like K2 that is not tested for in typical drug screens?

Everything in life has undisired side effects many of which are unknown from person to person. The taser prevents more injuries than deaths. If you dont want to subject yourself to potential side effects of a taser then do the right thing and have no worries.

As far as the few with mental conditions that may cause someone to act out uncontrolably, well it pretty much sucks for all involved. They dont know what they are doing and either do we. It is not like people have signs on their foreheads that tell us their medical history. We often times have to act in a split second and without someone there to inform us of an underlying condition we simply do not know. If it is a matter of me going home safe or tasing you guess who is in for a shocking ride.

[Guest]

Vizator, that has to be the most ignorant post yet, "they don't know what they are doing and neither do we". You hit that on the nail head. But you should know what your doing especially if you have a taser and a gun. And they don't have their medical condition stamped on their forehead, correct again. But the actions, as noted by the officers, were not of a typical angered person. And didn't you guys just recently have to sit thru a class regarding handling of subjects with mental issues? Or were you on vacation, again. P.S. Did you enjoy your weekend off. I do hope your not using the agency computer to write all this hogwash on company time.

[vizator]

Vizator, that has to be the most ignorant post yet, "they don't know what they are doing and neither do we". You hit that on the nail head. But you should know what your doing especially if you have a taser and a gun. And they don't have their medical condition stamped on their forehead, correct again. But the actions, as noted by the officers, were not of a typical angered person. And didn't you guys just recently have to sit thru a class regarding handling of subjects with mental issues? Or were you on vacation, again. P.S. Did you enjoy your weekend off. I do hope your not using the agency computer to write all this hogwash on company time.

Why does everything have to be an arguement with you? Is everyone elses thoughts or perspective wrong if it does not allign with yours?

[Guest]

"Guest" your post was ignorant. What vizator was trying to say was that we don't know what the mental condition is, or what it's causing you (him) to do. Only an idiot would interpret his post the way you did. The actions of this unfortunate individual indicated someone on drugs. The officers probably thought that was the problem, and they may have been correct. If he wasn't then there was something very wrong with him, and he posed a threat to the people around him. They did what they have been trained to do. With 87000 safe deployments, the taser is an excellent tool. It doesn't cause deaths. If it did, it would no longer be marketed. The deaths have been the result of other contributors, like drugs, unknown health issues. Don't resist, and there's no risk. It would be a real shame for law enforcement to lose this outstanding tool because of misrepresented information. Take the taser away, and watch the number of injuries and death climb.

[Guest]

"Guest" your post was ignorant. What vizator was trying to say was that we don't know what the mental condition is, or what it's causing you (him) to do. Only an idiot would interpret his post the way you did. The actions of this unfortunate individual indicated someone on drugs. The officers probably thought that was the problem, and they may have been correct. If he wasn't then there was something very wrong with him, and he posed a threat to the people around him. They did what they have been trained to do. With 87000 safe deployments, the taser is an excellent tool. It doesn't cause deaths. If it did, it would no longer be marketed. The deaths have been the result of other contributors, like drugs, unknown health issues. Don't resist, and there's no risk. It would be a real shame for law enforcement to lose this outstanding tool because of misrepresented information. Take the taser away, and watch the number of injuries and death climb.

And how would you know what the heck Vizator was trying to say, unless you are Vizator, hehehehe And you were not at the scene so how do you know what it indicated. I guy was flipping handcuffed and these officers felt the need to tase him multiple times. What, he is supposed to just stand there while you shock his butt 3-4 times and not try to get you to stop. Your an idiot. Any person will attempt to get away from someone who is causing them severe pain, mental or not. My opinion differs from yours, so that makes me an arguer? Your opinion isn't set in stone and the final almighty. That repeated number hits without death came out of a ledger article. And one person losing a family member to its use is too many. It is not an acceptable casualty under any means. How 'bout we tase your butt multiple times and see how you react.

[Guest]

I know what vizator was trying to say, because I'm smart enough to understand what was written right in front of me. The article didn't say anything about the guy being handcuffed. He was resisting arrest. Handcuffed subjects don't get tazed. If you were a cop, you'd know that. You would also know that tazers don't kill. Excited delirium kills, extreme overweight along with an enlarged heart kills, these conditions coupled with fighting with four cops kills. A 31 second deployment, even with several shorter bursts, is not enough to kill anyone. I have personally tazed an individual as many as 9 times, and it still took 3 cops and 5 FD and EMS members to wrestle him into submission. No, I don't recommend doing it that many times, but sometimes you have no choice. If I hadn't had a taser, I would have had to shoot that subject. As it is, he suffered no ill effects from the tasing, and got the mental health help he needed. When you have had to shoot someone, you have a much deeper appreciation for a taser.

And I didn't call you argumentative. Vizator did. I said you were ignorant, which you are. You know only what you read in the media, which is nothing.

[Guest]

I know what vizator was trying to say, because I'm smart enough to understand what was written right in front of me. The article didn't say anything about the guy being handcuffed. He was resisting arrest. Handcuffed subjects don't get tazed. If you were a cop, you'd know that. You would also know that tazers don't kill. Excited delirium kills, extreme overweight along with an enlarged heart kills, these conditions coupled with fighting with four cops kills. A 31 second deployment, even with several shorter bursts, is not enough to kill anyone. I have personally tazed an individual as many as 9 times, and it still took 3 cops and 5 FD and EMS members to wrestle him into submission. No, I don't recommend doing it that many times, but sometimes you have no choice. If I hadn't had a taser, I would have had to shoot that subject. As it is, he suffered no ill effects from the tasing, and got the mental health help he needed. When you have had to shoot someone, you have a much deeper appreciation for a taser.

And I didn't call you argumentative. Vizator did. I said you were ignorant, which you are. You know only what you read in the media, which is nothing.

YOU NUMBNUTS, THE ONE YOUR REFERRING TO DIED, HE STOPPED BREATHING BEFORE EMS GOT THERE, CANT YOU READ, HE DOESNT NEED MENTAL HELP ANYMORE.

You need to go back and re read again you moron, YOU apparently can't comprehend, and my complaint today is regarding AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT SUBJECT in todays paper on a ventilator expected to die from being tased multiple times "while haphazardly handcuffed with one hand tangled behind his head". So say again, handcuffed subjects dont get tased, really?? He was headbutting and fighting with his elbows, if officers can't dodge those motions, you have serious issues. Obviously your trying so hard to be a jerk, you don't even know what your talking about. Go back and read first, wipe behind your ears and try again.

[vizator]

Vizator, that has to be the most ignorant post yet, "they don't know what they are doing and neither do we". You hit that on the nail head. But you should know what your doing especially if you have a taser and a gun. And they don't have their medical condition stamped on their forehead, correct again. But the actions, as noted by the officers, were not of a typical angered person. And didn't you guys just recently have to sit thru a class regarding handling of subjects with mental issues? Or were you on vacation, again. P.S. Did you enjoy your weekend off. I do hope your not using the agency computer to write all this hogwash on company time.

The comment was to infer that we do not know what the subject is doing not that we do not know what we are doing. Again, if you had common sense and were not just trying to cause problems for law enforcement you would understand that.

[Go Away]

To the original "Guest":

GO AWAY! you're obviously just some pissed off weiny tool, who cant do this job, and you want to come on here and attempt to stir up REAL COPS. the ledger, as well as 100% of other forms of media outlets, always want to put their ignorant spin on things like this because it keeps little morons like you buying their products.

If you want to join "a cause", start protesting the incident and see what it will solve. cause at the end of the day, nobody of importance will give a dam what your uneducated, pathetic little self thinks.

you better get going, your shift at Denny's is about to start.

[Guest]

Now statements like that just reflect how immature you are. Are you gonna go tell mommie I was bad and wouldn't let you win the argument? This site is here for everyone to voice an opinion, not just yours. You don't have to like it, just like I don't like yours. But hey, that's life and you better get used to it. Just because you wear a pickle suit, doesn't mean you have final say. I bet you are one those little punks who thinks because you wear a uniform you can walk all over everyone and you arrest people with your creative writing 101 and your cases get thrown out. In the end, the sao keeps track of your sorry cases and pretty soon your word isn't worth diddly squat. You will not last long. And notice, I can write this and not use a foul mouth like some little gangster. I am here to stay, nothing you can do about it, and if I want to contact the Ledger or national news, thats my prerogative. Grow up.