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29 year old dies of taser jolt by Minnesota Troopers

startribune.com — Mark Backlund was driving to the airport to pick up his parents when he got in an accident. State troopers stopped and said he became "uncooperative" and tasered him. He was later pronounced dead. Authorities have not described the uncooperative behavior.

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  • learnoutloud, on 01/18/2008, -4/+126I'm from Fridley where Mark was from. This is madness.
    • AriaStar, on 01/18/2008, -10/+65I want to say it, want to...but will refrain. Not a time for Sparta jokes. Another person was killed by police with tasers.
      • zeusthemoose, on 01/18/2008, -58/+9Psh... THIS IS SPARTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! *zap*
        • Magillicutti, on 01/18/2008, -3/+23ugh
          • nospinhere, on 01/18/2008, -3/+13The story failed to answer a very important question. Who ended up picking up the parents from the airport?
      • hottyson, on 01/18/2008, -0/+6It would have been inappropriate for a joke.
        The surviving family thanks you.

        27 years from now his two year old son will be reading this.
        He will be saying, "I am the same age of my father when he was murdered by the police."
        It is this boy who will have had to grow to be man without his daddy.
        It is this boy who will have had to listen to his mother cry herself to sleep every night in the next room.

        Murder by the police has become common and acceptable behavior.
        American society is no longer civil but savage.
        • nicholai, on 01/20/2008, -0/+1"American society is no longer civil but savage."
          Just like Sparta (without the coolness).
    • soot, on 01/18/2008, -1/+27I live close to Fridley. I didn't hear about this incident until now, but this is very sad news.

      What's with all of these taser deaths lately? The things are obviously wrong if people with no histories of cardiovascular problems are being killed by them.
      • jsmu, on 01/18/2008, -1/+21AND if people with histories of cardiovascular problems are being killed by them.
        • brad3378, on 01/18/2008, -0/+4The cops should make them sign a waver before tazing the ***** out of them.
      • Nichiren, on 01/18/2008, -0/+16It might not be that there's a sudden spike in taser deaths lately. It's just that people are more aware of it now and so it's being more widely publicized especially in the Digg community. These incidences are atrocious and the more people that are made more aware of it, the higher the chances that something will be done about it.
        • nicholai, on 01/20/2008, -0/+1This is true because cameras are becoming cheaper and smaller. I even got a digital camera for Christmas.
      • gernblansted, on 01/18/2008, -1/+12Taser use is way up, so the number of people who die from tasering will be way up too. Tasers are not "safe", that is corporate and police *****. They should be available to law enforcement, but there should be strict rules for their use, and not just 'police discretion'. I'm very curious about what this guy did to deserve being taken out of that 'to serve and protect' pool.
        • derek20cali, on 01/18/2008, -5/+1[citation needed]
          • MarkOfTheDead, on 01/18/2008, -1/+3Umm type in "taser" in the little search box at the top of this page. It's getting out of hand to the point where we'll need a taser section soon.
        • derek20cali, on 01/18/2008, -2/+1An increase in digg stories does NOT mean the number of taserings has increased. Sorry to disappoint you.
        • nicholai, on 01/20/2008, -0/+1The police will taze you if you don't fall face first on the ground the second they tell you to get down.
      • barakatx2, on 01/18/2008, -1/+3maybe he was already hurt in the accident, and the taser made his injuries fatal? but if thats the case, i dont know why police would need to taser an injured accident victim. hopefully the rest of the story will become clear so his parents can deal with this.
    • CerMakAlot, on 01/18/2008, -2/+13I'm from Fridley, as well. It's kind of a shock to hear this happening so close to home. What did he do to deserve death?
      • GfunkGbuss, on 01/18/2008, -12/+7Please tell me the pun was completely unintentional...
        • CerMakAlot, on 01/18/2008, -1/+13Of course it was unintentional. Don't be so damn sensitive.
      • supersaiyantoto, on 01/18/2008, -7/+1...yeah kind of a shock indeed... no pun intended... really....
      • ordig, on 01/18/2008, -0/+11police in your state refuse to say why he was tasered. you should be pissed. make some phone calls or something.
        • cdahlkvist, on 01/18/2008, -0/+5They said why he was tasered. He was uncooperative. That's what they always say. It's not just in Minnesota (Fridley).

          I drove by that "accident" the other day on the way home but I just heard about the murder (using a taser on someone when you have no idea how they may react to it - and with all the knowledge of recent deaths due to tasers is nothing short of murder). Kind of disturbing.

          Then again, I live in North Minneapolis so I am use to seeing/hearing about a murder on a weekly if not more frequent basis.
      • derek20cali, on 01/18/2008, -3/+1Kind of a shock? lol
      • kults, on 01/18/2008, -0/+6Cops don't ask medical records, do they. People should start tasing cops, I bet quite a few doughnut-faces have heart conditions. Cry me a river.
        • cdahlkvist, on 01/18/2008, -0/+2Awesome answer.

          In fact, much like having to do a daily inspection of their vehicles, their weapons, etc, I think they should have to "test" their taser each day by using it on themselves.
    • zaxroom, on 01/18/2008, -1/+30why wont the police describe the behavior??
      • jsmu, on 01/18/2008, -1/+30You know why.
        • masterm1nd, on 01/18/2008, -6/+2Yes, you seem to know a lot of stuff you don't actually know.
          • nicholai, on 01/20/2008, -1/+1You seem to think you know more than you know.
        • jsmu, on 01/18/2008, -0/+0I'm dazzled by the incisive logic, nay, the genius of this remark.
      • mikelieman, on 01/18/2008, -0/+41Because their negligence would incriminate them, and they have a 5th Amendment Right not to incriminate themselves for their alleged torture and murder of a Citizen.
        • nicholai, on 01/20/2008, -0/+1Fine, lets put a camera on every tazer gun and force them to release it to the public.
      • Traiklin, on 01/18/2008, -2/+27he got out of his car to check the other car and then the cop showed up and he tried to explain it to him and was met with a taser, they won't say anything cause the cop ***** up more then likely.
      • Bunmei, on 01/18/2008, -0/+25They're simply buying themselves time to come up with a more PR friendly explanation and at the same time attempting to let the general public to slowly let this fade away. They also want to wait for the autopsy, to pin point what really killed him. This way they can possibly blame some unforeseen circumstance that occured. As of right now, describing this as "uncooperative behavior" with no particular details at all, only leaves us to believe that the trooper made a quick and terrible judgement call and that they don't want to shoot themselves in the foot but admitting to fault at this time.

        These unfortunate events have been allowed to occur since they leave so much ambiguity on usage, when they leave it at an officers "descretion". Aren't peace officers trained on how to handle hostile individual through hand-to-hand submissions. I mean for godsake, stop being lazy and use your training before you decide to possibly take another's life.
        • MarkOfTheDead, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1A little too late for that....
        • 14justice, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1The reason for all of this is right there in the article: "Injuries to officers struggling with offenders have decreased considerably since the department started using Tasers in 2001."
        • brufleth, on 01/18/2008, -0/+2@14justice
          Which really is great and all but even one death of an apparently non lethal individual negates any bruises or black eyes cops might have avoided.
      • Azriel7, on 01/18/2008, -0/+14Isn't there a video? Don't most police cars have them now?
        • gernblansted, on 01/18/2008, -0/+14If the guy was running around throwing punches, you'd likely see the video on the evening news. But you didn't... That is very suspicious.
        • MarkOfTheDead, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1Maybe the tape is flaying around free in the same magical land officer kuehnlein from the st louis police dept's tape ended up.
        • brufleth, on 01/18/2008, -0/+5Those tapes automatically self destruct if an officer does something wrong.

          But really I'm not sure what the agreement is about those tapes. They might actually have some rule they they can't be used AGAINST cops but only to convict suspects or something wacky like that. I would think police officers would have wanted to avoid them as they are effectively watching everything they do which I can't imagine them wanting.
    • BeefBaron, on 01/18/2008, -1/+16He probably asked them to pick up his parents from the airport.
    • LingNoi, on 01/18/2008, -20/+5Madness? THIS IS SPARTA!
    • eagles2k3, on 01/18/2008, -18/+6Obviously he did something that made the cop tase him. It's not like a cop just tases someone who is calm and collected. Gimme a break. We need to konw more before we are so quick to condemn the poeple who serve to protect us every day.
      • Sinnic, on 01/18/2008, -4/+8Allow me the first LOL.
        • eagles2k3, on 01/19/2008, -1/+1That's right, you were there so you know everything.
      • remccain, on 01/18/2008, -3/+10Your ignorance is showing. Police exist to protect and serve the state, not the people.
        • eagles2k3, on 01/19/2008, -0/+1Whatever. Keep smoking that *****.
      • hakr89, on 01/18/2008, -2/+12How calm and collected are you when you are involved in an automobile accident? Do you think that an electric shock would thereafter make you calm and collected?
        • eagles2k3, on 01/19/2008, -0/+1Calm enough to know that when the police show up maybe I shouldn't get up in their grill and be hostile. Do people think that the cop just walked up to the guy and tased him for absolutely no reason? Why would he do that? Were you actually there? No you weren't and neither was I, but a cop in middle suburbia isn't going to walk up to some guy and just tase him for no reason at all. Not saying he did the right thing, but at least be willing to have an open mind about what may have happened.
      • gernblansted, on 01/18/2008, -3/+6The meaning of "Serve and Protect" depends on which individual human wearing a badge you happen to run into, the mood they are in, your race, their race, your location, the time of day, and many other contributing factors. Thinking that police are necessarily there to help you and that they only go after "BAD" people is naive.
        • blqysmg, on 01/18/2008, -1/+6In fact, the police NEVER protect anyone. They capture and punish. AFTER a crime has taken place, the police take a report. If the person who commited the crime is still there, they will capture that person, or kill him. Sometimes they severely injure a person due to their zeal to capture. The courts then prosecute people, not based on their crimes, but based on their ability to win. It's a ***** up system.
        • eagles2k3, on 01/19/2008, -0/+1Really? So if there were't any police, what exactly do you think the world would look like...oh that's right, ***** anarchy where people just kill each other because there's no consequences. God, some of you people here are just plain stupid.
      • diggmeyoubitch, on 01/18/2008, -2/+14Tasers should only be used in the place of a gun, or to keep someone from harming his/her self. Cops are using them to force compliance, and it's just wrong. They said the man was being uncooperative. If you wouldn't shoot someone with a gun for being uncooperative, then you shouldn't tase them either.
        • eagles2k3, on 01/19/2008, -1/+1Actually, I don't see anything wrong with using them for compliance if they've actually tried to get you to comply by asking you to do something politely or simply telling you to do something. If you then don't do as your told, they sorte have to resort to some use of force, I think tasing is perfectly appropriate in that situation. You've had your chance.
      • rilbyrne, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1Actually, Minnesota police are pretty civil especially around the burbs. I have yet to have a bad experience with them. However, this is coming from a white suburban college student...so take it how you want.
    • mickoes, on 01/18/2008, -1/+9This happened here in Quebec and the tayser got banned a few month later from the police force.
    • pimpofpixels, on 01/18/2008, -0/+3Never forget Fredrick Deacon Williams.
      http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-196470718 ...
    • Tommydukes, on 01/18/2008, -6/+4Tazer has never lost a lawsuit and NEVER WILL. Because tazers do not kill people. Drugs, over excursion, and pre-existing medical conditions are the cause of death.
      • Tarnum, on 01/18/2008, -0/+5Guns don't kill people. People kill people.
        You can kill with anything. It's the intent. Did the police officer *knew* that his victim could die from multiple tazings?
        • Tommydukes, on 01/18/2008, -1/+1That doesn't even address my argument. You think the officers intended to kill him?? why would they taze him then and just not pump 20 rounds of 9MM into him? People get tazed multiple times every day.....just wait for the investigation to be completed.....one of my previously underlying issues will be present.

          who the hell becomes uncooperative enough at an accident scene to get tazed?
      • jsmu, on 01/19/2008, -0/+1Who the hell thinks this kid was 'uncooperative'? Who the hell in THIS day and age thinks our police are noble, fair, just, wise, and protecting us? Who the hell thinks stonewalling to coordinate lies, oh, sorry, official statements is 'completing an investigation'?
      • pimpofpixels, on 01/19/2008, -0/+1Yeah man. You're an idiot.
      • Tommydukes, on 05/06/2008, -0/+1After an autopsy. IT TURNS OUT YOU ARE ALL WRONG.

        http://wcco.com/local/taser.death.drugs.2.692441.h ...

        Drugs Killed Man Who Died After Being Tasered
        ST. PAUL (AP) ― The death certificate for a Fridley man who was Tasered by State Troopers says he died because of cocaine and other drugs in his system.

        The death certificate filed on Friday says 29-year-old Mark Backlund died of "consequences of mixed drug use." The drugs in his system included a pain reliever, a drug for schizophrenia, mania, and bipolar disorder.

        Other factors in his death were physical exertion and restraint, a sedative, inflammation of his heart, and severe hardening of the arteries of his heart.


        I will take your silence as an apology and admittance to being wrong. Thanks for reading

    • boypdp, on 01/18/2008, -3/+2Actually....this is Sparta.
    • peligro18, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1madness?
      THIS IS SPARTA!!!!!!
    • TwineHornet, on 01/20/2008, -0/+1Why hasn't anyone commented about WHY he was tazed? He was just in a CAR ACCIDENT! Usually people are belligerent and confused as well as in shock after being in car accidents. Why was it assumed by the cops that he'd be perfectly cooperative? You don't taze someone who just got in a car accident, either.
    • CaptainAmerica1, on 04/06/2008, -0/+1Well, now we know that Mark Backlund did not die due to the taser shock. For all you cop haters out there, sorry to disappoint you that Mark Backlund was not killed by a TASER. All you people who called for the banning of this essential law enforcement tool without knowing the facts of the case, well, now you know the facts, and shame on you.

      http://digg.com/world_news/TASER_did_not_cause_the ...
  • cmccool, on 01/18/2008, -3/+106"Gordon Backlund said he was told his son's heart stopped. A 1996 graduate of Fridley High School, he had no heart conditions, his father said."

    freaking scary!
    • AriaStar, on 01/18/2008, -2/+45You're outright ***** if you've got a history of heart problems. As run in my family. I'm scared to death of these things. Shoot my leg, but don't taze me. Please!
      • Plinkotic, on 01/18/2008, -1/+23Getting shot in the leg isn't neccessarily better, but yeah. If you've got a heart issue, goodbye. If you're on a dialysis machine and you're tased, the mess is epic.
        • AriaStar, on 01/18/2008, -2/+9A taser attacks your whole body. At least a gun shot primarily only attacks your leg and doesn't risk frying organs.
          • gernblansted, on 01/18/2008, -1/+4Important note: many people have died from gun shot wounds to the leg. People bleed out, cut/damaged arteries retract into the body, blood clots, blood infection resulting from infected bone marrow, plus many other life threatening problems are possible. People die from badly broken legs as well.
        • Linua, on 01/18/2008, -0/+7I rather get shot myself.
    • 4UIDigg, on 01/18/2008, -1/+12Anybody tasered for over a minute can die heart problems or no. To prevent police from misusing tasers, there should be regulations requiring that police can only use tasers with a recording capability, so that it would be possible to determine afterworlds exactly how long they held the trigger.
    • CaptainAmerica1, on 04/06/2008, -0/+1Well, now we know that Mark Backlund did not die due to the taser shock. For all you cop haters out there, sorry to disappoint you that Mark Backlund was not killed by a TASER. All you people who called for the banning of this essential law enforcement tool without knowing the facts of the case, well, now you know the facts, and shame on you.

      http://digg.com/world_news/TASER_did_not_cause_the ...
  • jonesey65244, on 01/18/2008, -3/+141For being a "safe" means of restraining people, I think there have been far too many deaths from these things.

    I could be wrong...it has happened before...but I cannot recall people dying from pepper spray.

    For the most part, I have respect for law enforcement officers, but it seems they are using Tazers far too soon to calm someone down.

    My sympathy and condolences go out to the poor family who were waiting at the airport for their son to come get them.

    jonesey
    • Khabi, on 01/18/2008, -1/+6They're not marked as "safe" they're marketed as "less lethal" the same goes for pepper spray. People have died from it as well.
      The truth is people are frail, there are a number of ways for someone to die, there never will be a way to restrain someone completely and be safe.
      I do agree with you tho. It does seem like police are getting more and more taser happy lately (it could also just be that with the internet word spreads faster and the message isn't lost as easy). The real problem is that police are getting more and more accustomed to having these at their disposal, but if you take it away many cops won't know how to deal with an 'uncooperative' person and may just end up falling back on their guns. So you'll end up trading taser deaths for gun deaths.

      Its a slippery slope. My best suggestion, start passing that restraining foam to cops (i'm sure someone at somepoint will die from that too tho), that or get a jacket that can keep those probes from hitting your skin. :)
      • thall, on 01/18/2008, -4/+5Cops think (and are told) that tasers are less lethal, so if you take away the taser and all they have is their more lethal gun, then they're going to use more caution with the gun than they would with the taser. The trade of taser deaths for gun deaths would still give an end result of fewer deaths.
        • mikelieman, on 01/18/2008, -1/+6You forgot the CENTURIES OLD Baton. Which has a very wide range of applicable techniques from just being there, to self defense, to offensive uses.

          • jcims, on 01/18/2008, -0/+3Tazer use here sounds completely inappropriate, but the baton is no substitute for a Tazer. Tazer works regardless of the size of the person on either end of the line. You take some 'roid raging redneck and put them up against a 135lb female officer, and the baton is not going to do anything for you.
          • blqysmg, on 01/18/2008, -0/+3How about the even older VOICE. If the police stop being arrogant pricks, they'd have less trouble calming people down to the point where they didn't have to resort to violence
      • jcims, on 01/18/2008, -3/+3Agreed, this is a training/psychological issue on the part of the police force, not a technology issue. We don't know enough about the nervous system to instantly and completely incapacitate someone without running the risk of killing them. As a 'less-lethal' technology, they have saved countless lives, and a ban on them would likely lead to more deaths, not fewer (although cases like this one would probably be much less common).
      • bruce86, on 01/18/2008, -0/+5Where the ***** is the conflict resolution training?!?! Where is the training to de-escalate the situation?

        There are other option between "Asking nicely ----> Taser" .

      • brufleth, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1There are so many things a police officer can do before tasering. I think the taser is used because it is less likely to leave a big mark. Hit a high school kid a couple times in the leg if he's out of control. See how hard he keeps fighting back. I'm not saying cops should be beating people but it isn't like they've always had tasers. It doesn't take a whole lot of electricity to stop someone's heart. It really can just come down to bad luck.
    • swimanubis, on 01/18/2008, -1/+6there have been pepper spray deaths, mostly I think from preexisting respiratory conditions like asthema
    • sk11, on 01/18/2008, -1/+8They weren't meant for restraining people, or taking "the fight out of them," they were meant as an alternative to using guns or truncheons. Numerous videos seem to confirm that the police use these things as obedience tools. I'd rather they were just allowed to slap belligerent people like they do in some third world countries.
    • ryan83189, on 01/18/2008, -2/+8so true, if dog food kills a few dogs we issue a huge recall, with media coverage. When tasers kill several people it gets swept under the carpet.
      • theright, on 01/18/2008, -2/+1How exactly are these deaths being "swept under the carpet"? You know, aside from the massive media coverage, etc.?
        • garitar, on 01/18/2008, -5/+0@theright
          Digg comment system is being incredibly annoying and not letting me reply to our orginal thread, so I'll put my response here:

          ==================
          Regarding the case of "mistaken identity" I refer you to the following:

          http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~pdscott/qfhawsawi2.h ...

          In summary, it's in no way clear that the original identity was mistaken and the whole sequence of events which seemingly supported the mistaken identity claim has every indication of being a bad cover story.

          You're trying very hard to make the government's case appear consistent, by cherry-picking your sources, but the facts remain that:

          1. The Pakistani General was sacked a day before the allegations surfaced. Do you really believe that Indian Intelligence and the Times of India planted and fabricated the entire story as a *response* to his firing all in one day?

          2. The reasoning behind his firing was made clear in a WSJ article on the day it happened, it was his association with Saeed Sheikh, as uncovered by US investigators in the context of investigating the 9/11 attacks.

          3. If the Indian allegations were baseless, they would have been publicly challenged by now. They claimed to have given a significant volume of intelligence regarding this connection to US investigators. If this claim were untrue, it could have been denied by the FBI and scandalous for the Times of India as well as their sources. The basic premise of your argument is more absurd than the conspiracy that you claim does not exist. To my knowledge, the Indian allegations have remained unchallenged by both Pakistani and US agencies.

          Regarding the practical import of the funding source, no matter how much I squint, I fail to see how knowing the origin of the funds is of "little practical significance" to the task assigned to the 9/11 commission. Pursuing the source of funding would lead to more intelligence and possibly more arrests. Regardless of whatever other funding sources Al Qaeda may or may not have, finding out who funded the attacks is of tremendous practical significance, and claiming otherwise is completely bogus. You can reiterate the claim advanced by the 9/11 Commission report, but that hardly makes it true.

          And regarding your last point, I'm so pleased you brought up the issue of the truth movement "undermining the work of US investigators and Commision members". Silly me, I thought it might have had something to do with the fact that our government underfunded, short-deadlined, and stonewalled the 9/11 Commission investigation at every possible turn, to the point where the commision itself considered filing criminal charges against various US officials.

          But it must be the lies and misrepresentations of members the truth movement that fosters all of these crazy theories, right?
    • arplayer2k, on 01/18/2008, -0/+4I don't have respect for Cops in general, because when you give so much power to any individual with little or minimal checks and balances to make judgment calls, you must a) either put a rigorous screening process into place evaluating every persons psyche, background, school records, etc (basically every aspect of their life are put under a microscope) and then under further examination before they are free to roam the streets as they wish, or b) just don't give them that much power. "Peace Officers" should be able to cite people for speeding tickets and infractions, stop real crime as it happens, but drawing guns on somebody or tapering them because the officer "thought" they were uncooperative is a little too much power and a little too relative for 'C' grade average inside the box thinker and liver to exercise. If this profession as a whole had higher education standards for entrance, like a college degree minimum, maybe Police Officers would be better "Peace Officers" and in turn more appreciated and well respected by the general population.
      • flamingmb, on 01/18/2008, -6/+1"I don't have respect for Cops in general"
        And thats where I stopped reading. If you have no respect for law enforcement you are a dumbass.
        • blqysmg, on 01/18/2008, -0/+6Perhaps he, as I, used to respect police officers, but has had a few decades of life experience that has convinced him that he had been wrong, and most police officers are power-hungry thugs who enjoy the feeling of threatening the general population. I have lead a very clean, crime-free life and I've been threatened several times for no reason (once for simply asking directions.) Our cops are out of control.
    • flamingmb, on 01/18/2008, -3/+2Pepper spray= lasts 45 mins-1 hour
      Taser = time being tased.
      I choose taser.
      • Tarnum, on 01/18/2008, -1/+4"time being tased" = time without pulse.
        20 sec. "time being tazed" by idiotic cop = you are dead
    • apokalum, on 01/18/2008, -0/+0You could definitely kill a person with that pepper spray that hunters carry in case of an attack by bears.
  • americaindanger, on 01/18/2008, -5/+151I love the how they deemed him "uncooperative". What constitutes being cooperative? Questioning the police? One can only wonder in this case.

    I think some policemen relish the fact that they can shock people into submission, there for giving them a rush of adrenaline. Tasers are promoted to the public as non-lethal, but they are marketed by the manufacturer as less-than-lethal, hence you can still die from it.
    • corkyagain, on 01/18/2008, -4/+43Water-boarding is also "less than lethal".

      The justifications offered for tasering are as flimsy as those for water torture. We shouldn't be condoning either of them, no matter what "pragmatic" excuses their practitioners are giving for them.
    • AriaStar, on 01/18/2008, -4/+67The police won't describe how he was uncooperative. Therefore, he wasn't. They're hiding.
      • iRoy, on 01/18/2008, -4/+26They're probably making up their story as I type this comment.

        ***** scumbags.
    • Thater, on 01/18/2008, -17/+8'uncooperative' in this case probably means he was suffering from excited delirium; the #1 cause of death in police confrontations involving tasers. Tasers themselves can't possibly kill people under any circumstances because it's impossible.
      • amychelle, on 01/18/2008, -1/+11Does anyone know of any cases of someone dying from "excited delirium" *without* being Tasered?
      • buckrogers1965, on 01/18/2008, -0/+6I dugg you up because I thought you were being sarcastic.
        • LingNoi, on 01/18/2008, -0/+6I dugg you up for being so honest about it.
          • BlackBob, on 01/18/2008, -2/+4Man, what a nice guy!! I'm digging you up.
      • mikelieman, on 01/18/2008, -1/+12excited delirium: a made up phrase to distract people from the deadly effects of amateurs playing with electricity.

        I see it NEVER seems to happen outside of Police Custody and Restraint. That's pretty strange. You'd figure the Bondage and Discipline people would have some experience with this stuff. Of course *THEY* know never play with electricity above the waist...

        • jsmu, on 01/19/2008, -0/+0As a BDSM person, I assure you, mikelieman, no one in his right mind would use a taser on someone he didn't intend to injure seriously--if not kill...
      • ryan83189, on 01/18/2008, -0/+3I would have said their own hubris killed them.
  • learnoutloud, on 01/18/2008, -0/+110My friend (we all went to the same high school as Mark) made the point that Mark wasn't a very big guy. The fact that he couldn't be restrained by the five(!) officers on the scene is pretty nuts. There is more on the Taser controvesy here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taser_controversy including links to the stories about a 6 year old boy and a 12 year old girl being tasered.
    • AriaStar, on 01/18/2008, -6/+18*****, a gun shot would to the leg only effects the leg and down's someone. A taser effects the whole body. I'm sorry about your buddy. it's always harder hearing about stuff like this when it's someone you know/knew.
      • Mikhail101, on 01/18/2008, -11/+3heard of lead poisoning, then they amputate your leg. Why not use pepper spray and batons instead and the right amount of force.?
      • GoDawgs7, on 01/18/2008, -1/+10lead poisoning isnt the issue. Hitting the femoral artery is. That's why that NFL football player died last year.
      • BabyWookie, on 01/18/2008, -1/+12You are mistaken here. A gun shot to the leg can easily kill you. All it takes is to hit a major artery and you can bleed out very quick.
      • Lyph5, on 01/18/2008, -0/+7The only time you draw and fire your weapon is when you intend on killing someone. Period. In Law enforcement, there is no such thing as "shoot to wound."
      • mikelieman, on 01/18/2008, -0/+3Gently prodding him in the ribs with the end of a baton?
      • MarkOfTheDead, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1Lyph - The same should go for drawing a taser these days.
    • slashbot, on 01/18/2008, -25/+2The fact that five officers couldn't restrain him is why the use of the taser was necessary.
    • Murdats, on 01/18/2008, -2/+6right and if you are an olympic runner say goodbye to your future.
    • sillywampa, on 01/18/2008, -0/+15we don't know that he needed to be restrained. He was "uncooperative" can mean he just didn't want to answer their questions. The taser is supposed to be used in lieu of deadly force as with a gun. It's not meant to subdue people who don't need to be subdued just because they talk back to a cop or he doesn't like their answers.
      And because anybody could have an undiagnosed heart condition, these things can kill anyone from one jolt. They have no way of knowing how it would affect every person and therefore should not use it.
      • Murdats, on 01/18/2008, -3/+1yeah, and we know well what the effects of a metal stick to the skull is. or being wrestled to the ground and striking the curb.
        what if they have an undiagnosed bone condition, suddenly half your bones are broken from being physically restrained.
        they have no idea what blunt trauma could be induced and how it would affect every person and therefore should not use it
        • s1mph0ny, on 01/18/2008, -0/+3Roughing up the general population isn't in their job description. All five of the cops involved should be fired immediately, for nothing less than goofing off at work.
    • BohicaTwentyTwo, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1Why would anyone need to be "restrianed" anyway?
  • corkyagain, on 01/18/2008, -8/+93Yet another taser victim. Sigh. This really must be stopped, and soon.

    Why, oh why, isn't this abusive police practice an issue in this election?
    • almonds646, on 09/11/2008, -3/+20http://content.onlineagency.com/sites/38289/images ...

      Because that sums up the American electorate.
      • phenry, on 01/18/2008, -2/+9I may have to get one of those...
      • userperson, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1Pretty much all of them are blood thirsty imperialists, not just Hillary.
        • s1mph0ny, on 01/18/2008, -1/+1That's an interesting question (although not very important). Does it really matter that a candidate is a bloodthirsty imperialist, or are the passive imperialists just as bad? Most of us would rather vote for FDR than Stalin, but I have a feeling that more injustice is caused by the passive.
          • userperson, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1I doubt they're Stalin, but the majority of them have wonderful ideas how to force America to do this or that. Sure it's passive in a sense (at least domestically / for now). But disobey or refuse to turn over your money for their vile purposes. Then they'll require more money. If one refuses to recognize their authority altogether, then the guns come out, and to prison you go (we know what can happen there). If you run they can shoot you.

            But agreed, this is likely not changing soon, so in that sense not the greatest question. More things are caused by passivity? Passivity is lack of action. Reexamine or elaborate on your premise.
    • joot2112, on 01/18/2008, -13/+4an election issue? Are you kidding? How many people has this affected vs. say, lack of health care? maybe five versus 58 million?
      • deadcrickets, on 01/18/2008, -1/+12so murder is not an issue to you. when would it be an issue? when a cop does it to you? what about a common criminal? a terrorist? or what if they did it to your child? your wife? I'll make you a bet you'd be screaming for justice if one of the above happened.
        • joot2112, on 01/18/2008, -8/+1You are off on an irrelevant tangent. If any of those things happened, I wouldn't be blaming the president. Except the terrorist one, maybe. And fighting terrorism IS an election issue.
          • s1mph0ny, on 01/18/2008, -1/+1You don't fight terrorists, because they aren't soldiers.
      • jsmu, on 01/18/2008, -2/+5yeah, a few dead perps here and there, who cares?
        You're unreal.
      • joot2112, on 01/18/2008, -8/+1It's not that I don't care about people dying, it's just that it's about as deserving of national attention as a disease that affects .000002% of the population. We have bigger problems affecting and killing more people than tasers. It's not an election issue, because it isn't. You people are delusional if you think otherwise. And it doesn't matter that you don't understand that I'm right, because the proof is in the fact that there is no way this will become an election issue.
        • remccain, on 01/18/2008, -1/+6From June 2001 to September 2007, Amnesty International has recorded 291 deaths of individuals struck by police Tasers in the USA and Canada.
          Not a big deal. Only 291 deaths recorded.
          Ever wonder how many are dismissed as drug related or as an existing heart condition?
          no?
          Not enough room in your tiny little brain for big figures, eh?
          • joot2112, on 01/18/2008, -1/+1You are the one who doesn't understand figures at all, if you think 291 out of two countries with populations of 300 million and 33 million is a "big figure".
        • joot2112, on 01/18/2008, -1/+1Here are some actual "big" figures for you to consider:
          At least 80,000 Iraqi civilian deaths since the U.S. invaded.
          1,800,000 U.S. veterans without health care.
          195,000 medical error related deaths in the U.S. per year
          30,000 firearm deaths in the U.S. per year
          17,000 deaths from AIDS in the U.S. in 2005
          7,700,000 unemployed persons in the U.S. currently
          estimated 15,000,000 illegal immigrants in the U.S. currently
        • jsmu, on 01/19/2008, -1/+0And you think any of those are election issues? A no-neck monster from Arkansas who wants to change the constitution to enable fascist theocracy. A woman with an ex-president husband and a strident laugh. A black man (an issue to this country simply by virtue of his skin pigmentation). These are election issues around these parts. Somehow rampant taser abuse causing death , not to mention the related concerns of police brutality and misconduct, seems more in the big figure camp.
    • fishrjv, on 01/18/2008, -1/+4I may be wrong.. but this type of thing seems more of a state issue as opposed to a federal one. The presiden has little to do with these type of policies.
      • buckrogers1965, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1I think that a state official, like a police officer, depriving someone of life or liberty is a federal matter.
      • s1mph0ny, on 01/18/2008, -0/+2Tasing deaths are a state issue, because it is the misuse of deadly force by law enforcement officials. This becomes a federal issue when the department of law enforcement in a state decides that there was nothing wrong with the use of force (as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement found in the non-fatal unnecessary tasing of a University of Florida student by the UPD). The sale and development of tasers are also a federal issue, given that the companies selling them are actively deceiving law enforcement officials.
      • 14justice, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1These days cops are armed to the teeth because of Federal grants to "fight terrorism," which, in turn, is the result of a misguided foreign policy which the President has everything to do with!
    • r3negadeX, on 08/11/2008, -1/+6Police brutality may not be an issue, but 2nd amendment rights is. Just saying, if worse comes to worse...
    • dannytehmanny, on 01/18/2008, -1/+13Why o why does digg not have a tazer section yet
      • remccain, on 01/18/2008, -1/+7same reason Ron Paul info keeps vanishing.
      • dealseeker, on 01/18/2008, -1/+1don't digg me, bro!

        (there's your answer)
    • coryking, on 01/18/2008, -9/+2You got a better idea?

      Have you seen cops? You seen the episodes back in the 1980's before they had tazers and beat the ***** out of you with a billy club? Tazers are an excellent tool to *reduce violence*. A tazer immobilizes a suspect just long enough to get them into handcuffs. I'll take that over a ***** of bruises or hours of pain from pepper spray any day!
      • flamingmb, on 01/18/2008, -4/+1You are being dugg down because what you said was right on. Its really the nightstick or the taser or 10 officers taking down one guy.
    • lee1199, on 01/18/2008, -0/+5Its not an issue because each candidate is *****-scared of being portrayed as soft on crime, or "anti-police". None of them has the balls to deal with anything controversial for fear of making a mistake, its not about the issues its a bloody popularity contest, you might just as well be voting in American idol.
    • CaptainAmerica1, on 04/06/2008, -1/+1Well, now we know that Mark Backlund did not die due to the taser shock. For all you cop haters out there, sorry to disappoint you that Mark Backlund was not killed by a TASER. All you people who called for the banning of this essential law enforcement tool without knowing the facts of the case, well, now you know the facts, and shame on you.

      http://digg.com/world_news/TASER_did_not_cause_the ...
  • AriaStar, on 01/18/2008, -11/+62*****, I swear, these days we are in more danger from those sworn "to serve and protect" us. I think I'd rather take my chance in an armed mugging than to be faced wit a cop holding a taser.
    • Mikhail101, on 01/18/2008, -20/+5are you joking?
    • slashbot, on 01/18/2008, -24/+3Really? Maybe you should take a walk downtown in some of our cities. Have fun.
      • jsmu, on 01/18/2008, -1/+12Perhaps you should take a walk in front of some of that city traffic. Have fun.
      • pendrachken, on 01/18/2008, -0/+8go back to slashdot, I can mod you down there too.
    • geometry, on 01/18/2008, -23/+8You'll have your day in court. It's stupid that people try to argue with police, like you're going to win. Take the ticket, do what they say and have your day in court, that's how the system works.

      I don't love police either. I've been stopped for non issues. I feel I've been harassed by police. But at no point do I start arguing with them or do something they tell me not to. And guess what, I haven't been tased, pepper sprayed or arrested. I'm a young hispanic male living in So Cal so I get my share of harassment.

      Most police officers are average people putting their life on the line daily. I welcome the use of taser guns to control uncooperative people. If 5 uncooperative people die a month and it saves 5 police officers I'm happy. It's the era that we live in that people don't have respect for authority and feel they have a right to be asses and uncooperative.
      • jsmu, on 01/18/2008, -4/+18You fascist imbecile.
        With 'citizens' like you, who needs storm troopers?
        • remccain, on 01/18/2008, -7/+1fascist? are you even familiar with the word?
      • slashbot, on 01/18/2008, -18/+4Wow, fascist? These people make no sense.

        You're totally right geometry.
      • SPECOPS, on 01/18/2008, -4/+16Right, right, I forgot, welcome to the "Police State of America" - guilty until you prove yourself innocent in court, wasting both taxpayers money and my own time trying to connivence the judge the over zealous cop trying to satisfy the mayor's demand for more "revenue" is not my fault. I might was well just write the check at the scene, and not protest it at all... I mean he'll have evidence showing I was in concurrence to his interpretation of whatever law(s) he thinks I broke without any fuss from anyone!
      • buckrogers1965, on 01/18/2008, -1/+17Yeah, but the cops are supposed to be professional about it. Instead they act like jack boot thugs because they know they can kill people and not face any punishment.
  • DeviantDragon, on 01/18/2008, -21/+19I was thinking that a taser story hadn't been on Digg in a while.
  • Qtip42, on 01/18/2008, -2/+77but but but but in all the cases, they prove it's not the taser that kills.......it's the cracking your head on the ground......the sudden adrenaline rush......a preexisting condition........ It wasn't the tasers fault! /taser company

    Taser companies and the police force should be held liable for these deaths. They ARE caused by the taser whether directly or indirectly and the idiot officer who can't use his hands and feet to do real police work.
    • slashbot, on 01/18/2008, -28/+3You resist arrest, you take your chances with a taser. It is NOT the company's fault. A taser is a much better alternative to a gun.
      • Qtip42, on 01/18/2008, -2/+20He wasn't resisting, he was uncooperative which can mean a number of things. And seeing as how police abuse their powers, it is not a far stretch to say he probably was questioning them and when he raised his voice, they zapped him to show who is in charge.

        A taser is NOT a better alternative to a gun when you use the taser more FREQUENTLY. Guns are rarely drawn on people who run their mouth. Guns are drawn in life or death situations only. Tasers are drawn when someone won't shut up or they don't like their attitude (see: dont tase me bro)
        • coryking, on 01/18/2008, -5/+1blah blah blah. grow the ***** up. you dont resist arrest.
          • buckrogers1965, on 01/18/2008, -0/+4He was on his way to pick up his parents from the airport and got into a car crash. What specifically illegal thing did he do that would allow them to arrest him?
          • jsmu, on 01/19/2008, -0/+0There is no evidence , because THEY CANNOT PRODUCE any, that he even resisted arrest. Get a ***** brain-- try the Share-a-Brain program. Just made for folks like you.
      • geometry, on 01/18/2008, -16/+3I know you'll be dugg down as I probably will too. But I agree with you. We're not in a third world country where police are totally misusing their power. I know that there is a minority of police officers who are complete asses and get off on using their power, but I don't think that's the issue most of the time.

        Do what the cops want and take your day in court. I know there are those people that are going to argue that we're in a police state but that's really over doing it. If you're an upstanding citizen and are mistreated by the police you'll have your day in court to show the judge that. By arguing and being uncooperative you're only putting yourself in a bad position.

        But in todays society I'm not surprised that so many people feel that they don't have to obey a police officers authority. When people don't show their own parents respect what do we expect of them when they become adults.
        • mikelieman, on 01/18/2008, -1/+11"I know you'll be dugg down as I probably will too. But I agree with you. We're not in a third world country where police are totally misusing their power"

          I would call the Extrajudicial Torture of being Tasered to be a hallmark of a 3rd world country, myself. It's not like you're GUILTY of anything OR liable for any sanctions...
        • makkaveli19, on 01/18/2008, -1/+7wow geometry, you think the judge is gonna believe you when its your word against the cops, you think that the cop can't whip out a story about how you were swearing at him and giving attitude even though you were respecting his AUTHORITY. Cops have no Authority over you, and they shouldn't. They are there to "protect and Serve" right? *****. i can't believe people would give up their own rights like that
        • coryking, on 01/18/2008, -3/+1Guys.... taser vs billy club? You resist arrest and are pumped up on adrenaline, they have to cuff you somehow. I'll take taser any day.
      • jsmu, on 01/18/2008, -2/+2Oh? Because shooting with a GUN can be construed as intent to kill?
        Ludicrous.
    • greenlight2001, on 01/18/2008, -11/+3Does anyone else hate the stammering "but but but..." people use when pretending to be the other party making a counter argument? God I hate ***** hate it. Makes me want to punch babies.
    • Tetraca, on 01/18/2008, -1/+9Taser manufactuerers shouldn't be held any more liable than a gun company. The officer is the one that abused the weapon in a situation in which it is probably unnecssary resulting and death, and therfore, should pay the price if an unnecessary death occurs due to their use. You do not see Draugonov being sued for the actions of a serial killer with a sniper rifle. That would be a little rediculous. You see the serial killer seeing time for his actions with the product.
      • mrgreen4242, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1Gun manufacturers don't claim guns are non-lethal sell them to police departments on that premise. There's a significant difference here. I agree that the officer and department should be held directly accountable for specific cases like this, however I support the department/city/state (whoever pays the lawsuit off) suing the manufacturer if they sold them the device on the premise that it was non-lethal.

        Why should tax payers have to foot this bill?
    • bruce86, on 01/18/2008, -0/+8I dunno, if they can prosecute teenage boys for fighting which cause a school security guard to have a heart attack the next day. I think we can sue the cops for tasering someone to death.
    • s1mph0ny, on 01/18/2008, -0/+5Arguing that tasers don't kill people is like arguing "The gunshot didn't kill him, it was all the blood loss. If the subject had a healthier amount of blood he wouldn't have died!"
    • CaptainAmerica1, on 04/06/2008, -1/+1How about *you* signing up for the police and go after guys resisting arrest with just *your* hands and feet, you big talker, you.
  • slashbot, on 01/18/2008, -66/+10This is why you do not resist arrest.

    If you start fighting back, expect them to take measures to regain control. The police are simply doing their job. Without them, you'd all be scared to live your basements.
    • RagdollOp, on 01/18/2008, -6/+27Yeah, the taser didn't cause it. Tasers don't kill people. Idiots that try to resist arrest kill themselves!
    • ConfirmedCynic, on 01/18/2008, -3/+28What constitutes resisting arrest these days? Anything the police want, it seems. Don't like the looks of you? You're resisting arrest. You don't play the total sheep? You're resisting arrest. Cop having a bad day? You're resisting arrest. Often without any accompanying charge as to just why you were being arrested to begin with.
      • makkaveli19, on 01/18/2008, -1/+11YES, a friend of mine was pulled over for speeding. he told the officer to hurry up because he had a test. the officer on purpose started wasting time(leaning on his car and looking around) my friend got outta the car to tell him to hurry up please(after calling him from inside the car) and he was immediately tased and cuffed. he asked what he was arrested for the officer said "resisting arrest" this was in CANADA for ***** sake
      • ordig, on 01/18/2008, -1/+5
        YOU: am i free to go?
        COP: *Tase*

        this is resisting arrest.
    • nmuleski, on 01/18/2008, -1/+26Where does it say he resisted arrest? It said he was uncooperative.

      That could mean he was arguing the fact the accident wasn't his fault, or even mad he wasn't allowed to leave to pick up his parents.

      Cops use Tasers for less then that every day
    • DblTap, on 01/18/2008, -4/+11And you're a lost little sheep...baaaa
    • dwright99, on 01/18/2008, -4/+4No, timid souls like yourself are more at home hiding and seeking help from others.
    • jsmu, on 01/18/2008, -2/+4actually, we're scared to live in the same COUNTRY with creatures like you.
    • s1mph0ny, on 01/18/2008, -0/+2Lets see how that goes for you. You don't resist arrest, they tase you anyway, you die... And then they're in trouble. When you get to court you'll tear them a new one because you weren't even "uncooperative." Oh wait, you're dead.
  • Mikhail101, on 01/18/2008, -2/+38Wow cops are a bunch of wimps, they should be able to have the man power to restrain someone and not rely on stupid gadgets like that. Batons and pepper spray would be fine.
    • Fizban140, on 01/18/2008, -18/+5What do you do for a living? You probably work at a desk and have never put your life at risk, so stfu.
    • Five28, on 01/18/2008, -9/+2Manpower you say? Bwaahahahaa!! You have no clue dufus. The taxpayers don't want to pay for more police, so most cops these days are working their patrols alone when in years past there would have been three or four other officers working the same area. I'd like to see your sorry ass go head to head with a 250 pound drunk who wants to fight. Oh wait, I'm sure you'd do some ninja moves on him and not even break a sweat. Hahaha!!
    • leftler, on 01/18/2008, -6/+5OMG, people are dieing from cops bashing in heads and rib-cages with billy clubs when they use enough force to stop someone, they need to use pepper spray,
      (A few years later)
      OMG, people are dieing when people with asthma are pepper sprayed, they need to use tazers.
      (A few years later)
      OMG, people are dieing when people with heart conditions and drug use when they are tazered, we need to use billy clubs
      • Mikhail101, on 01/18/2008, -1/+3well if you use the right force and nto go ***** then its fine.
    • jaxcs, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1I don't know if you are joking or not but although physical force and pepper spray can be more dangerous, it does have one positive - the effects cannot be in anyway denied. Going to court with a broken limb or eyes redded by pepper spray forces the jury to ask if the amount of force exercised was really necessary. A taser is painful but leaves no real marks. It's also too easy to use. Assuming the cop isn't literally twice your size, he has to put some effort into baton use. On the other hand, with a tazer, the cop doesn't have to touch you. He can cause you a great deal of pain with a single finger - from a distance.
  • themoosejuice, on 01/18/2008, -20/+3Dugg for mentioning the word "taser" in the subject.
  • calvmari, on 01/18/2008, -6/+75It's interesting that the police penalization for murder is a paid vacation.
    • jibii, on 01/18/2008, -4/+10Innocent until proven guilty should apply to everyone. I think the cops are in the wrong here based on what I've seen, be we haven't seen the whole story and if it does turn out that the tasering was justified (unlikely) it would be unfair of them to have gone without pay for weeks or possibly months. Their families shouldn't have to suffer.
    • Langford, on 01/18/2008, -0/+15They are basically in an "admit no fault" mode, so they don't want to do anything that makes the officers look liable for damages. I'm sure if it had been a civilian, they would have summarily arrested them until things could be sorted out.
    • antechinus, on 01/18/2008, -3/+2I didn't know that 'penalization' had replaced 'penalty'. Why wasn't this on digg?
    • makkaveli19, on 01/18/2008, -0/+11i think that officers should have a more severe punishments than citizens, after all they are the ones enforcing these laws.
    • P5ycHo, on 01/18/2008, -1/+1Someone should follow the officer in question & taze the MF in the supermarket.
  • Snarfy, on 01/18/2008, -3/+113A taser is an appropriate replacement for a firearm. It has no other appropriate function. You do not shoot somebody with a gun because they are uncooperative.

    • AMCer, on 01/18/2008, -3/+10I almost dugg you down until I realized that you just took a really obtuse way of saying what most of us think...
    • allan17, on 01/18/2008, -0/+21Please read carefully before digging down the OP. What he is saying is that taser should only be used as a alternative for a gunshot. In the case in hand, I'm sure pepper spray and batons would have been more than enough.

      If the taser was used only to disarm people of weapons or only as a replacement for a gunshot, it would be a useful. The police are majorly abusing and misusing this tool.
      • CeltiCowboy, on 01/18/2008, -0/+12Actually in this case telling the guy "Dude, chill out. You've been in a single car accident. You are not going to get there to pick up your parents. Use your iPhone to call someone to arrange something, we'll finish the paperwork, your wreck will be towed, you can then go."

        Nahh - let's just taser him. He's "uncooperative."
      • Bakrain, on 01/18/2008, -0/+6Agreed. By the way, better not break any traffic laws either.
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMaMYL_shxc
        And here we have police breaking the law.
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkbouqyeHRY
    • Five28, on 01/18/2008, -10/+1You children are all wrong. A taser is NOT a replacement for a firearm. A firearm is a tool to be used when deadly force is authorized. That means basically when the officer, or members of the public, are in fear of death or great bodily harm. You would never find an officer pulling out his taser in a deadly force situation. It is used to help subdue potentially violent individuals in place of batons, or to lessen the possibility of an officer having to fight with the offender. Pepper spray is very limited in it's use too. You can't just whip out the pepper spray and start spraying. You have to know the wind direction, what is behind the offender, where the situation takes place (inside vs. outside) etc. It's just a shame that so often these days people think that they can argue with or threaten police officers. Yes, I'm sure that a few officers abuse their tasers, but for the most part, they are used appropriately with very few injuries or deaths. And I also don't think that all five MSP troopers were at the scene when the guy was tased. It was probably a lone trooper, and when his backup arrived, they were included in the administrative leave as a policy procedure.
      • buckrogers1965, on 01/18/2008, -0/+7Then we agree that there is no reason for the police to have tasers. Thanks!
        • Five28, on 01/18/2008, -6/+1No, we don't agree. It's glaringly obvious that Digg is mainly populated by youngsters who have no real world experience as responsible adults. One day you'll realize that you didn't really know squat when you were a teen, and when that time comes, then you will have reached the point where your arguments actually make sense. Until then, be quiet and listen. You might learn something.
        • makkaveli19, on 01/18/2008, -0/+2why the ***** does everyone have to over generalize the digg population(they are all liberals,virgins,kids,stupid,ill informed, america hating, freedom hating, ect.) its a big community, ***** off. Also this is the internet, everyone thinks they have the most experience, information, and that they are the *****. including you
        • coryking, on 01/18/2008, -3/+1Sorry, most of you are kids or kooks that only thrive here because the ***** comment system lets you hide behind a screen of buries and diggs.

          The more I watch cops (my new addiction) and see how police handle nutballs who fight back, the more I'm convinced that *in the hands of a properly trained officer*, tasers are a much more humane replacement for pepper spray and billie clubs. Just yesterday they had a cops episode where a suspected child molester *broke through the cop car window* went ape ***** on the cops, ran from them and either the episode predates widespread taser use, or the county didn't have them, the cops had no choice but to basically beat the ***** out of the guy with a billy club until he complied. A taser would have knocked that guy on the ground and immobilized him long enough to cuff him and put him back in custody. The guy wouldn't have ***** hit pants in public, he wouldn't have had bruises, and the cop wouldn't have risked hepatitis from getting bit. So which is more humane?
      • makkaveli19, on 01/18/2008, -0/+3I've asked a constable, he told me that tasers are a replacements for a close counter firearm, where ever a gun is needed tasers are drawn instead. well at least in canada
      • s1mph0ny, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1Since it's so popular around here.... WOOOOOSSSHHHH

        You don't beat someone down because they are potentially violent. They actually have to show violent force in order to allow that type of action. The police are allowed one level greater deadly force than the citizen that they are fighting. Going straight from an annoying attitude to deadly weapons skips several levels of weaponry.
    • ShnowDoggie, on 01/18/2008, -3/+15290 people killed by police using tasers since June 2001 ~accoring to Amnesty International

      2006 = 48 police feloniously killed ~http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm
      2005 = 55 police feloniously killed
      2004 = 57 police feloniously killed
      2003 = ?? (guessing 55)
      2002 = 56

      That is 271 police feloniously killed in 5 years vs 290 taser deaths in 5 1/2 years. Think about that.
      • ShnowDoggie, on 01/18/2008, -0/+3PS Snarfy I dugg your comment. I think these numbers help support you statement.
  • kristov, on 01/18/2008, -40/+5Madness? The lesson here is quit ***** with the police. They are there to protect us all and if you resist you gotta get handled.
    • ConfirmedCynic, on 01/18/2008, -2/+14If it's more dangerous to have the police around than to send a meter maid, I begin to question the whole system.
    • jsmu, on 01/18/2008, -1/+15'handled'? 'protect us all'? Do you eat FOX NEWS for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?
    • ShnowDoggie, on 01/18/2008, -1/+6The issue is why are the cops killing people with tasers. Nobody is really defending the behavior of most of the people who were tased and killed. But we are questioning the use of the taser in situations where it really does not seem to be needed. Police forces in other countries, such as England, manage do their job without shooting and tasing people. In fact many of them do not even carry these weapons.
    • makkaveli19, on 01/18/2008, -0/+8yes, i'm being protected when i'm being wrongfully arrested, or harassed. thats wonderful.
    • s1mph0ny, on 01/18/2008, -0/+2Maybe you'd like me to protect you from your wallet?
    • NullzipZero, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1you're a ***** moron.
  • theduderoberts, on 01/18/2008, -9/+8this is why we shouldn't frown upon the use of billy clubs
  • rjflyn, on 01/18/2008, -18/+4Combative to the point of fighting with at least 5 troopers after a relatively minor crash screams of head injury/bleeding in the head. One that could potentially be fatal in a short period of time. I wouldn't be so hasty to entirely blame the Taser.
    • Guitar7272, on 01/18/2008, -5/+1Why is this guy getting dugg down? I'm an EMT and it's common for patients with a head injury or a bleed to become combative; we're taught to look for it as a sign of injury. It's a medical fact but facts be damned if it gets in the way of ***** the police, huh?
    • Maarek, on 01/18/2008, -1/+6Ok.... given maybe the cause of death was from blunt trauma to the head. Question: why are we tasering a victim of a head injury when there are 5 officers present? Are police officers not also trained first responders? Should they not also know that combativeness is a sign of injury? Not that I want to blame the death on taser, but why the ***** is it being employed here? Prior to the advent of taser how did 5 cops manage to subdue a (potentially....we don't know what he did yet) combative person? I believe they used their training and restraints rather than jumping at the first chance to use a potentially lethal device. Perhaps he would have died anyway, but then again he may have been further injured by the device (or from the inevitable collapse to the ground while being tased). The problem isn't that the taser is so very lethal, it's that it encourages inhumane and cowardly behavior from those that at least used to not be that way.
      • coryking, on 01/18/2008, -4/+1Are you a cop? Are you an EMT? Were you there to witness the suspect? No?

        Your opinion isn't valid. If a guy goes *****, not even five strong people can take them down without some serious ***** kicking (or maybe a quick tase..)
      • Maarek, on 01/18/2008, -0/+3My opinion isn't valid because I am not a cop or currently an EMT? What was my opinion exactly, other than pointing out that they should know what these people are spouting off as conventional wisdom (that combativeness can be a sign of head injury). Did Cops not have to handle these situations prior to the invention of the taser?

        Of course I do think your opinion is valid, not that I think there is a point or much defense to it but rather that I recognize it is an opinion....one I happen to disagree with. You don't even have to be a cop or an EMT for me to consider your opinion, how's that for being even handed?

        Also your little off the cuff "quick tase" might have helped to kill this young man, who despite being argumentative, likely did not do anything warranting being killed. Hardly something to be done quickly or taken lightly.
    • TwineHornet, on 01/20/2008, -0/+1Yeah so don't taser a freaking car accident victim.. that is the moral of the story. The cops were morons. He was probably in shock, that's why he wasn't cooperating.
  • Zandarrr, on 01/18/2008, -3/+25Wow, I'm from Mn and I know the cops here are douche bags but wow, this really takes the cake. I really want to find out how he was being uncooperative but of course it won't be accurately reported.

    Police Investigations = 2 week vacation for offending cop. Enough time for the event to blow over and the public to become distracted by the next celebrity event.
    • Five28, on 01/18/2008, -15/+3Wow man, like, all cops in Minnesota are douchebags. Every last one of them. And they're going to cover it up dude. Like, it's a conspiracy dude.

      Asshat!
      • jsmu, on 01/18/2008, -2/+3Wow, man, like, you never like heard of police brutality, man, or, like, of internal affairs departments , or, like, of investigations that , like, result in RESIGNATIONS of police , like, chiefs?
        *****.
      • buckrogers1965, on 01/18/2008, -1/+6Where are all the good cops coming forward protesting the inappropriate use of force?
        • SuperCujo, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1Did you just equate cops to Muslims?
  • mattewood, on 01/18/2008, -14/+22***** the police!

    Oh what, am I not COOPERATING? ARE YOU GONNA TASE ME?

    ***** the police!
  • AlienMushroom, on 02/21/2008, -14/+4Don't tase anybody, BRO!!
  • dallrock, on 01/18/2008, -2/+51I'm so sick and tired of these cops thinking their taser guns are substitution for reasoning. I am aware that not all cops think this way, but there are enough that do, and this story, along with the abundance of youtube videos is proof. Here's an idea, treat the person you've just pulled over like a human and maybe they won't be so uncooperative. And use your head for God's sake! The kid was just in an accident, of course he's going to be upset...

    Bad cop, no donut!!!
  • LastDitchHero, on 01/18/2008, -0/+59I think cops should have to file the same paper work for firing a taser as they would if they fired their guns. Be a lot less taserings.....
    • userperson, on 01/18/2008, -0/+3Perhaps that's a good idea,
      but I think you might be wrong. There might be a lot less 'documented' taserings.
      These guys risk their lives without get paid much to do it; and you're going to deny them the sadistic fun that 'moral superiority' allows them? They aren't going to stand for that.
    • Carramrod72, on 01/18/2008, -2/+3They do...Its called a "Use of Force" form. So....

      I'm not taking a position here, but to me it seems alot of us don't think much about what we write....None of us have any clue what happened. Let's not speculate that "all cops are douchebags" or "they are making up a story as we speak." The truth will come out because people who are actually involved, on both sides of the issue, want to know the truth and want to do the right thing. It WON'T come out because we sit here and speculate and generalize. Who are we to sit here and think, in regards local government and law enforcement, that everyone is corrupt, power hungry, abusive liars and unless we whine on DIGG, no one will notice? Sad.
  • jadenton, on 01/18/2008, -5/+32Only one solution for this. Hard time for killer cops.
  • spyd3rweb, on 01/18/2008, -4/+27How many more deaths is it going to take???
    • RevToTheRedline, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1Tasers don't kill, at least that's what law enforcement still thinks. Sad
  • slashbot, on 01/18/2008, -40/+3Resist arrest, risk the tazer.

    Damn it's not rocket science. Bunch of liberal bleeding hearts
    • Mikhail101, on 01/18/2008, -2/+15people should arrest you for being stupid. Would you resist that?
    • jsmu, on 01/18/2008, -3/+10Yeah. Resist arrest, risk death. Move to the Middle East, Bozo. Their methods will suit you so much better.
      • makkaveli19, on 01/18/2008, -2/+2they won't tase you in the middle east. good old batons!
        • coryking, on 01/18/2008, -1/+3I love digg.... only here can you get dugg down for reasoning.
    • buckrogers1965, on 01/18/2008, -2/+8It's people like this that welcomed the Nazi's.
    • jaymzdean, on 01/18/2008, -3/+61. Choke
      2. Die
    • danwallace, on 01/18/2008, -8/+3As much as you'll get dugg down, no one will come up with any sort of intelligent response to what you just said. They'll just tell you to die and call you a stupidface.
      • bowens44, on 01/18/2008, -0/+4A moronic comment doesn't deserve an intelligent reply.
    • BlackBob, on 01/18/2008, -2/+7I didn't catch where it said that he was resisting arrest. Did you read a different article?
    • s1mph0ny, on 01/18/2008, -0/+2Don't resist arrest, still get tased. Shoot the cop, don't get tased.
    • bowens44, on 01/18/2008, -0/+4Spoken like a true brown shirt. If cops are such weak cowards that several of them can't subdue one man then without electrocuting them then they have no business being on the force.

    • P5ycHo, on 01/18/2008, -0/+4So, even if he was resisting arrest (which he wasn't), he should be put to death?
      Why not just shoot him with the normal gun? That would 'take the fight out of em' too.

      The officer has no right to risk this persons death by tasering.
      • AZSanMan, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1Over 290 deaths nationwide...
        Being a jerk to a cop or standing up to them via your rights as a citizen, does not give the police a right to murder. This is a death penalty being handed down for expediency. What happens when a prisoner dies in a jail cell? Even one of those deaths causes a public outcry.
    • xfusion6, on 01/18/2008, -0/+2Resisting arrest is not 'being uncooperative.' If he was resisting this story would probably not even be on digg. Your an idiot...
    • TwineHornet, on 01/20/2008, -0/+1I don't think any cop should assume a person who was just in an accident will ALWAYS be perfectly cooperative. And don't tase a possibly injured person. Sheesh.
  • ConfirmedCynic, on 01/18/2008, -1/+44Everytime one of these articles appear, you have people replying with "don't ***** with the cops". As if giving a bit of attitude is cause for death.
    • slashbot, on 01/18/2008, -22/+3Resisting arrest means you risk the use of force. It is less than lethal, not completely nonlethal.
      • MrESaulved, on 01/18/2008, -1/+18Resisting arrest can't bootstrap itself. You can't be charged with resisting arrest as the sole, instigating charge.

        So I can be as non co-operative as I want, to the point of zero co-operation...such as retaining my right to remain silent. What, are you hoping the next step is to electrocute people into confessions?

        What manner of barbarian are you slashbot?
        • buckrogers1965, on 01/18/2008, -2/+6They charge people with only resisting arrest all the time. It's wrong, and illogical, but they do it. A lot of times even if they have to drop all the other charges they will still keep the resisting arrest charge.
        • Carramrod72, on 01/18/2008, -3/+1Hindering. By refusing to cooperate in an investigation by not answering questions, not giving your name, giving false information. In the case of an accident, perhaps he was at fault and was not honest for whatever reason, leading to further investigation, a verbal dispute and possibly an arrest, which lead up to the ultimate situation. Perhaps intoxicated. Under the influence of a drug. IM NOT SAYING ITS RIGHT. I disagree with it. All I'm saying is people get on here and SPECULATE while the real information is a few clicks away. These comments sound like drunken/stoned ***** talking sessions late night when I was in college. Talkin *****... Like *****. Not knowing the first thing about the actual thing you are talking about. Offering no solutions and become more aggressive as a solution to the problem. There are millions of things that could have happened and all us smart guys decide in 12 seconds that we know what happened and how it happened. Period.

          AND the reason they don't release information right away, for an example see the comment below in which it is pointed out that the article says he was "uncooperative not resisting arrest. Two different things." You are analyzing a newspaper article LITERALLY and having a debate based on the use of a word, which, as interpreted by a reporter, could very well be two NOT different things. If ANYONE has ever been involved in a anything at all that has been covered in a newspaper you know there is some confliction between real events and events that are interpreted by someone putting an article together...
      • jsmu, on 01/18/2008, -3/+5Oh really. And exactly how are cops supposed to divine whether or not they're zapping a heart patient, which guarantees serious illness or death?
        • bruce86, on 01/18/2008, -0/+4Rule of thumb, Don't tase people just for arguing or disagreeing. You will avoid 99% of the outrage.
      • 0011002, on 01/18/2008, -2/+1May I ask Slashbot where exactly does it say he resisted arrest?

        I worked for a casino's security for 2 years. I've gotten to see cop take downs (it can be funny where the resist arrest) but never in all those times of dealing with drunks and the like did i see a single cop need a weapon to subdue someone who was being uncooperative. They are taught how to take someone down without ever using a weapon so honestly a lot of cops are just getting lazy and feel that the taser since is suppose to be non lethal (yes i know advertised as less than but really say that out loud and think about how it sounds) that they can just shock them into compliance.
        They really should need to have to fill out as much paperwork when they shot them as guns.
    • Five28, on 01/18/2008, -16/+2So you think it's OK to give cops "a bit of attitude"? What do you do for a living? (maybe you still live in your parents basement?)
      If you do have a job, how would you feel if the majority of people that you deal with gave you a ration of ***** just because you were trying to do your job? That's what cops face each day. Most people are not happy to have an encounter with the police cause they are going to get a ticket, go to jail, or something bad has happened to them. This is no excuse to take your frustration out on the cop. Be civil to them and more than likely they will treat you with the same courtesy.
      • jsmu, on 01/18/2008, -0/+11Ah, the tiredest cliche on digg: 'you still live in your parents basement' (in this case misspelled, to boot. parents' basement is correct.)
        If you did have a brain, would you use it to conclude that people who work with the public in ANY capacity face 'a ration of *****' each day, and that dealing with it is part of their job? Frustration at the rudeness and violence of those you deal with is no excuse for even worse behavior on your part as an officer of the peace.
      • Maarek, on 01/18/2008, -0/+9If they cannot take the pressure of their jobs then they have no reason to be a police officer. They aren't there to take frustration out on but they are employed specifically to handle situations in which frustration is exactly what the people are going through..... and although being civil is always the first default approach, there is no requirement to be civil to someone who is treading on your civil liberties (the ones that these people are employed solely to guarantee exist). Do not forget that the police are supposed to be there to protect the public interest and see to the preservation of civil liberties, they act (like all government) at the will and approval of the people and the sooner we remind them of this the better.
      • makkaveli19, on 01/18/2008, -0/+7They are the ones that are suposed to be civil, its part of THEIR job. can't take the heat, stay... uh...out of the....kitchen?
  • iSmart, on 01/18/2008, -11/+3Shocking.
  • Feldoh, on 01/18/2008, -20/+10I have two friends who are police officers and from what they say tasers are very useful in the right situations. One of my friends was telling me about an incident at a shopping center near where we live where there was a fairly large (250-300lb man) drunk causing trouble. My friend tried to get him to leave and tried to hit my friend (who is about half his size), he brought out his taser and was able to cuff him easily by himself, where it would've taken multiple people to arrest him.

    Basically the point I'm trying to get across is that tasers are a good solution to police. It's an easy way to subdue people who are breaking the law. A gun would have a much higher chance of serious injury to a person it still seems. Do accidents still happen? Sure. Are some police officers retarded with them? Perfect example right here. But what I'm saying is tasers are used everyday by police officers effectively. Not to mention a lot of these deaths happened the same time the person was intoxicated or OD'ing on drugs.

    "*****, I swear, these days we are in more danger from those sworn 'to serve and protect' us. I think I'd rather take my chance in an armed mugging than to be faced wit a cop holding a taser."

    Would you really? I'd be willing to bet that you'd have a much higher survival against a cop.

    Bottom line is that tasers are, according to my friends, very helpful and a lot better than using a pistol.
    • slashbot, on 01/18/2008, -19/+7Sad that you're being dugg down. Those with reason agree with you.
      • jsmu, on 01/18/2008, -2/+9Pathetic that you think you have the slightest notion of 'reason'.
        • coryking, on 01/18/2008, -4/+1you got a better idea than tasers my friend? Should we just let everybody who resists arrest go?
          • s1mph0ny, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1Kill everyone who resists an arrest without warrant, or let the innocent go?
          • jsmu, on 01/18/2008, -0/+0Yeah, buddy. How about police officers like the one who's a friend of mine who are trained in POLICE WORK instead of brutality and thuggery?
    • MrESaulved, on 01/18/2008, -6/+13"But what I'm saying is tasers are used everyday by police officers effectively."

      *****! They are devices of pain compliance by electrocution chiefly used on livestock. Unpredictable in effect, death is a possible outcome. To condone electrocuting people under any conditions is sadistic and barbaric, no exception.
      • DeviantDragon, on 01/18/2008, -11/+3No, taser deaths are statistical anomalies and not everyday events.
        • Lyph5, on 01/18/2008, -1/+2Oh, they're not? Are you NEW to digg?
          • DeviantDragon, on 01/18/2008, -3/+2Sure on Digg they seem all too common, but in the real world there is no news story for every taser incident that occurs normally and thus no amount of those on Digg.
          • coryking, on 01/18/2008, -3/+2Yeah Deviant. Dont you know anything? Why, according to Digg, Ron Paul is our next president too!!!!

            I really. really. really wish the clowns that run digg would fix this moderation system so we can put you folks in check. Anytime you disagree with the bias in the article, whatever it may be, you get dugg down.
        • ShnowDoggie, on 01/18/2008, -0/+8There was no way for the police officer to know if the fairly large man had a heart issue or not. The police officer was risking one mans death so that he could cuff him easily by himself rather than try to calm, or stalemate, the offender until help could arrive. That is just wrong.
    • rmxz, on 01/18/2008, -5/+16Of course they're useful _for_ the police. That way it's easier for them to preemptively zap pretty much anyone they feel like, whether that person is a threat or not. And as a side effect everyone's afraid of them so they respect/fear them more. It's like saying that breaking kneecaps with baseball bats is a helpful tool for mobsters saving lives, because otherwise they'd need to use pistols too.
    • jsmu, on 01/18/2008, -6/+15I have a friend who is a police officer. he says that these people are incompetent sadists who enjoy the abuse of power. Tasers are used every day by police officers abusively.
      I'd be willing to bet that that person's odds are even. At best.
      Bottom line is that tasers are an excuse and an opportunity for fascist, trigger-happy cops to work out their frustrations.
    • theducks, on 01/18/2008, -4/+14Your friends should get out of policing if they want an easy job. Yes, sometimes you're going to have to break a sweat, or get punched or kicked. Those are not when you should be lazy and use a tazer and possibily kill someone. Someone's threating you with a knife? sure.

      Yes, I'm not a cop, so it's easy to comment from the sidelines. I was enrolled at the academy, but dropped out to work in IT. Pay is better and less people want you dead :)
      • coryking, on 01/18/2008, -2/+1What if they fight you while you are arresting them? Should you beat the ***** out of them as they escalate, or should you end it with a quick tase and slide the cuffs on them. Former has lots of injuries, latter has a memory of pain and no injuries.
    • Bakrain, on 01/18/2008, -2/+4I'll trust my .45 before I EVER call the police.
    • coryking, on 01/18/2008, -4/+2Hi, Since you've been buried and my single upvote cannot rescue your comment, allow me to say, I agree with everything you say.

      I too shall now suffer the rath of the digg children.
      • P5ycHo, on 01/18/2008, -1/+2If 5 cops cannot restrain a normal person who just had a car crash, they should apply for a job @ McDonalds, not use tasers.
      • jsmu, on 01/18/2008, -1/+1Let's see here. You're attempting to condescend to everyone on digg who disagrees with you (vast multitudes, obviously), and you cannot spell 'wrath'.
        How old are you?
  • zyko, on 01/18/2008, -5/+40Who needs terrorists when cops can do the same job.
    • swimanubis, on 01/18/2008, -2/+16for an infinitely larger amount of money! at least the terrorists don't charge me taxes.
      • buckrogers1965, on 01/18/2008, -1/+5Funny how much of your tax dollars went into training, funding and equipping them.
        • maremv, on 01/18/2008, -1/+4funding and equipping maybe... but I doubt they were trained
        • swimanubis, on 01/18/2008, -0/+2he has a point. the cia trained al quaeda back when it was the 'good guy mujahadeen' fighting the godless russians
    • ryan83189, on 01/18/2008, -1/+4Our government needs both.
    • dynamited, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1You just hit the nail on its head. Goverments give more interest and attention into 'protecting' people of foreign countries... instead of their own. Dugg
  • willskillz, on 01/18/2008, -2/+23Once again another person dies from the taser. Almost a daily headline somewhere in the country. Apparently it's an acceptable risk and standard protocol to tase a person for just about anything. Oh, the land of the free!
  • JasonCox, on 01/18/2008, -16/+4"Why, oh why, isn't this abusive police practice an issue in this election?"
    Because less people are dying by tasers then they are by billy-club beatings and bullets, thusly the Taser is doing it's job.
    • slashbot, on 01/18/2008, -10/+3Finally someone sees the big picture
      • rmxz, on 01/18/2008, -1/+7Actually, it seems someone made up a big picture from whole cloth. Or do you have any evidence that suggests billy-club beating deaths are that common?
      • jsmu, on 01/18/2008, -0/+5Actually, it seems someone should be working for Cheney and Rove. You'd fit in perfectly with coldblooded murderers.
    • exomni, on 01/18/2008, -0/+9They would never have taken out their guns in this incident. There was no violence, no risk of a crime, but because of their "non lethal" weapons they felt free to pull out the taser.

      And there is no way in hell that you could accidently kill someone with a billy club. If you use a billy club on someone and they die, it is 2nd degree murder, plain and simple.
  • ObeseSnake, on 01/18/2008, -2/+36Digg needs a taser section
  • freeboarder1402, on 01/18/2008, -1/+21"no one in Minneapolis has died directly from a Taser", well if it's indirectly killing people it's still killing
    • twollamalove, on 01/18/2008, -4/+11He didn't die from a gunshot, he died beacuse there was a hole in his stomach!
  • nrtikman, on 01/18/2008, -2/+20This is one of the reasons I have stopped respecting cops..all of them..
    Question them in any way or don't pay your respects to them and you will pay with your freedom (or in this case..your life)
    American police is quickly becoming what Solzhenitsyn described as the 'blue hats' in Gulag Archipelago..
    • TH3W1R3D, on 01/18/2008, -1/+2Well we still need cops, and not all of them are like this. This isn't imo a good reason to stop respecting ALL cops.
  • avenu420, on 01/18/2008, -1/+5He looks like Seth MacFarlane.
  • CrazedLeper,