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Why Was Mom Tasered? No Reason
Let’s just take the headline from this Today Show story:
“Mom Tasered in front of kids ‘posed no threat’”
So why was Audra Harmon tasered? That’s what she wants to know. And she’s suing to find out.
Here’s video from the Today Show that includes footage of Audra being tasered by the officer after being pulled over for talking on her cell phone while driving. Which you’re not supposed to do. But as far as I know, it’s not a taserable offense. As it turns out, Audra says that she wasn’t even on the phone, just “driving with my hand on my cheek”. The officeral said that she was speeding, doing 50 in a 45 mph zone. Also not taserable as far as I know. The kids were in the car when it happened, which of course makes it that much worse, at least to the parenting part of my brain.
Here’s the report, then I’ll give you the kicker.
Harmon told Meredith Vieira that she “wanted to see the tape. I knew that he was lying. I knew that I wasn’t speeding. I knew that I wasn’t on the cell phone. I wanted him to show me the tape.” The mom and the officer “went back and forth” according to the Today Show.
I can’t help but think of the Gates case (which, beer or no beer, isn’t going away). The details were very different, and in this case, the woman was tasered and then arrested. But the reason is remarkably similar — arguing with a cop. Which is not supposed to be something you get arrested for. (Note: I wasn’t there at either incident, I’m going from reports that I’ve read and seen.)
I think being a police officer is a thankless job, and I have a lot of respect for anyone who decides to go into law enforcement. At the same time, police officers can’t react to people questioning them with an arrest, even if they’re being unbelievably obnoxious. It sounds to me like Gates was being a jerk, and Audra Harmon may have over-reacted as well. But being a jerk is not illegal. (If it was, A-Rod would be in jail.)
Source: NBC
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0 Comments
Melissa commented on Aug 17 09 at 2:32 pmI’ve got to say, this stuff is really starting to piss me off. Last I checked, the police are public servants. I think to some extent they deserve respect, but they should also give it. I dated a cop once and he had a really bad attitude–a sense of entitlement because he was a cop. I’m not generalizing; I know all cops aren’t surly. But I think it’s time for this nonsense to stop.
Adam commented on Aug 17 09 at 4:33 pmIf I were a good cop, I would want pieces of trash like Tazer McTazealot off the force — these type of cops endanger good cops, in my opinion.
But when these people are not dismissed or weeded out prior to an incident like this, it calls into question the integrity of the entire police force(s) where officers like this one operate.
If there were more good cops than bad, wouldn’t people like this go to jail, and not be “assigned to administrative duty”?
Mistress_Scorpio commented on Aug 17 09 at 5:57 pmI know good cops. I’m *related* to cops. It doesn’t change the fact that most cops have this attitude. “Disorderly conduct,” more often than not means “Pissing Off Police.”
The worst is when they “accidentally grab their gun instead of their taser” like that man that was murdered when he was face down on the ground with hands cuffed behind his back.
Manjari commented on Aug 17 09 at 8:01 pmThis is outrageous, and really pisses me off. This is what you get for driving 5 mph over the speed limit with your hand on your cheek? I am so tired of police having free license to abuse anyone and everyone.
Jackson commented on Aug 17 09 at 9:06 pmCops don’t serve the public. They serve Big Brother and His agenda. It’s really simple. I don’t care what city, or what state- they look the same everywhere these days. Dangerous, rabid dogs.
bessar commented on Aug 19 09 at 7:12 amCommentsI think that the “speeding” charge -no radar- would not stick anyway and seems trumped up. He could at least have made it 60!
jerimia commented on Aug 28 09 at 9:18 amComments Judge jury in a black and white. Does a cop have the right to ask you where you work? What kind of questioning is that. give me the ticket and leave. And no one should be able to talk their way out of a ticket. If your pulled over then you get it. Why do cops have this type of power. Makes them abuse the power. Wanting sexs for tickets ect.
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