Ft. Worth Star-Telegram: Dozens march on downtown Fort Worth, protesting use of Tasers

[Heidi]

Posted Saturday, Nov. 07, 2009

More than 50 people marched through downtown Fort Worth on Saturday calling for police to stop using Tasers and punish an officer involved in the April death of a mentally ill man.

The protest was organized by supporters of the family of Michael Jacobs, 24, who died after a Fort Worth police officer shot him twice with a Taser to subdue him. Jacobs’ death was ruled a homicide by the Tarrant County medical examiner and will be reviewed by a grand jury.

"I’m really grateful to this big old crowd for speaking on behalf of my son," said Charlotte Jacobs, Michael’s mother.

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In his report, Medical Examiner Nizam Peerwani found that Officer Stephanie A. Phillips shocked Jacobs twice with a Taser — once for 49 seconds and once for five seconds. According to the report, the officer told a detective that the first jolt was longer because "she unknowingly kept the Taser trigger engaged." She remains on active duty.

<snip>

"There’s got to be a safer way to subdue somebody regardless of what the situation is or isn’t," said Debra Lara, Lopez’s cousin.

Read more

[TexasObserver]

1. Tasers are a dangerous product, made worse by overuse.

That case was a bad one.

[Echo In Light]

2. ...made worse by sadist goons who are excited over the prospect of abusing others