Galveston Bay Personal Injury Lawyer - Taser

Taser Maker Issues New Safety Warnings

Scott Kappes — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:26:31 GMT

Taser International has issued new warning to police agencies throughout the nation to not shoot at the suspect’s chest. The company said that striking a suspect in the chest can in extremely rare instances poses a risk of an adverse cardiac event.

This is the first time that Taser has ever admitted that there may be any risk of cardiac arrest associated with the use of its 50,0000-volt stun gun.

Officials from Taser were quick to point out that the bulletin does in no way state that Tasers can cause cardiac arrest, but rather advises law enforcement authorities that controversy can be avoided if officers aim for other areas of the body.

Over the past several years the safety of Tasers has been questioned and numerous critics claim that the devices are much more dangerous than the manufacturer has lead people to believe.

Earlier this year a 27-year-old Texas City man died from cardiac arrest after being tazed by La Marque police during an altercation. Just last week the officers involved in the incident were cleared of any wrongdoing by a Galveston County grand Jury.

This will likely continue to be a hot topic in the years to come with strong convictions guiding each side of the issue.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Protesters Descend on City Hall in Response to Death

Scott Kappes — Fri, 22 May 2009 13:41:02 GMT

The La Marque police station and city hall became gathering grounds for about 60 police brutality and anti-taser protesters Thursday afternoon. The protesters were speaking out against the use of tasers following the death of a local man who was “tasered” by police last Sunday.

Jamaal Valentine died Sunday night after the incident in which three La Marque police officers tried to arrest him after people reporting him walking down the middle of main street and rolling in the grass on the side of the road. One of those eye witnesses said that he called police asking for medical help for Valentine who claimed he thought he was having a heart attack.

The cause of death has not yet been determined, but many suspect that the use of the taser may have directly contributed to Valentine’s passing.

The protest was organized by local business owner and former Galveston county Sheriff’s deputy Glen Wilson, who owns a barber shop across the street from La Marque police station. The group, lead by Wilson, is demanding that the incident be investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Mayor Geraldine Sam and Councilman Keith Bell addressed the crowd at city hall asking for patience and support of police officers during the ongoing investigation.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Galveston County Man Dies After Being “Tazed” by Police

Scott Kappes — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:45:57 GMT

An unidentified man died Sunday night after police officers used a Taser to subdue him during a struggle. According to reports, the now deceased individual was “tazed” by La Marque police after refusing to cooperate and resisting the officers’ attempts to take him into custody.

La marquee police responded to a call about a man rolling around in a ditch in 2600 block of Main. On arrival police found the apparently intoxicated man made an attempt to take him into custody. Officers struggled with the man in an attempt to make the arrest. During the struggle one officer used a Taser on the man.

An ambulance was called by the officers to evaluate what was at the time called a non-life-threatening injury the man sustained during the struggle.

While in route to Southeast Memorial Hospital the man’s heart stopped. The ambulance was then re-routed to Mainland Center Hospital in Texas City where the man was pronounced dead.

The series of events leading up to the man’s death are being investigated by Galveston County officials and the district attorney’s office. It is not yet clear if the use of the Taser played an integral role in the man’s death.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes