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M$3.25 August 14, 2009 03:03 PM

OPEN THREAD: Tasered mom Audra Harmon

Audra Harmon was tasered and arrested in front of her kids in January in New York state, for allegedly talking on her cell phone and speeding. She denies all charges, which were dropped after prosecutors viewed the dash-cam footage.

Watching the video of the incident, was the officer right to use the taser? Why or why not?
Interesting Question?  Yes (4)   No (1)   

Interesting: buddawiggi M$0.25, lesliec M$0.25, lauriem M$0.25, jasoncalacanis M$0.50

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August 14, 2009 03:28 PM
Let me start with an understatement by saying that I think the police officer could have handled things better. This officer should be punished, reprimanded or required to have himself re-educated in dealing with suspects. Something should be done either by the Police Dept or the motorist Audra Harmon personally.
However this just goes to show that if a police officer tells you to do something, you do it, regardless of how you feel about it.
When everything is over you can file a complaint, press charges, sue etc. You can do whatever you like after the traffic stop or other incident with the police is over.


Tags: trafficstop, police, audraharmon

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Helpful: bunnyphuphu

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Voted as best: mysterygirl89, lexnucleus
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August 14, 2009 10:16 PM
I agree...
I don't feel that the middle of a traffic stop is the proper place to vent or argue.
Even if the officer you're dealing with is an ass, you wait until after the incident to fight whatever misconduct they may have done and you'll actually have a better chance of winning.

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August 14, 2009 04:42 PM
Yes, people who talk on their cell phone and speed while driving should be tasered and arrested. The current system of fining drivers is not working, with countless drivers speeding and using their cell phones indiscriminately.

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August 14, 2009 06:32 PM
From a technical perspective the officer might have been within his rights to use the taser. See the following documentation on official use policy.

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2006/rpt/2006-R-0166.htm

But on a personal note I do not believe this situation warranted taser use. Even giving the officer benefit of the doubt that this lady was in some way jeopardizing his safety. Which I actually think she might have done.

As far as why the case was dropped. No jury in their right mind would completely side with the officer in this instance. More than likely this was a strategic move to avoid a future counter suit. The police chief probably determined that it was not worth the negative publicity and legal hassle to pursue this case.

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Voted as best: redgold
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August 14, 2009 08:36 PM
I think it's unnecessary to use the taser during that incident. He could have did things in a different manner cause first, he could have handled the situation better if he became more gentle, second, there could be effects on the children who saw what happened to their mom.

Maybe the woman disobeyed some rules (or maybe not) but still violence is not the answer for any kind of situation.

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August 14, 2009 09:07 PM
Wow .... I am at loss for words.

If I understood this correctly she was stopped for speeding and using her Cellphone and he used his taser because she got out of the car to see the tape that shows her speeding and talking on her phone while driving ?

If she was speeding and using her phone he had all right to stop her - even if she did not use her phone and was stopped for speeding !

Everyone knows that if you are being stopped by the police you wait INSIDE the car unless you have been told otherwise.
If she wanted to see that tape she should have waited for the Officer to come back to her car and asked him to see it.
If he would have denied the view she would have had his batch number and name since she was going to get a ticket and could have filed a report.
To be getting out the car and not returning inside the vehicle seeing that he has his hand on his gun as well as him telling her to get back in the car makes her look really stupid and stubborn.
For all he knows she could have carried a gun - after all this is NY - she did seem to have a slight attitude in the Video and he has to protect himself.

BUT .. it was wrong for him to taser her due to her violation against a Police officer - I felt horrible as I watched it knowing her kids were in that car watching their mom getting tasered and pushed onto the ground - I bet they were screaming and crying and she couldnt do anything !

No matter if she was right or wrong she should have kept her butt inside that Vehicle and not have a attitude with him - it would have taken all but of a couple of minutes for him to check her license and she could have had enough time to request to see the tape !

She disobayed a Police officer and still did after he gave her quiet a view warnings - if you are that stupid to still try to discuss with him then u deserve what you get !

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Voted as best: stanar
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August 14, 2009 09:52 PM
This incident does not appear to warrant the use of a tasar. The woman appears to be compliant and does not appear to require severe control measures. The tasar should be as near a last resort as any other conventional weapon.

Speaking on your mobile in a car is reckless and should be banned in the US in the same way as it is in the UK. Call records are often used in UK cases to prove if someone were in fact talking or texting. That fact should be esy to prove.

The only piece here that defies a clear judgement is the audio is voice over commentary not the actual exchange. The lack of all the information of this incident makes a judgement not possible as what is said may not reflect what is seen.

Tags: tasar

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August 19, 2009 12:05 AM
Great answer, keep up all of the good work!

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August 14, 2009 10:01 PM
Like the Henry Louis Gates, Jr. arrest, this is clearly another example of the police being unnecessarily aggressive and consumed with their own authority and an inability to tolerate any sort of restraint when challenged. Of course, not all police are this way, indeed the vast, vast majority are not and, as civilians, it is impossible to truly understand the daily bullcrap these underpaid, overworked heroes have to deal with, but I also think incidents like this reinforce the need for training on how to suck it up and take a little verbal abuse every now and again. This incident could have been much worse, forcing the mother down in the middle of the road. Even assuming "worst case" behavior from her (e.g., she was disrespectful and verbally abusive), the response of the officer was not in-kind or proportional.

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Voted as best: awesome222
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