As shown on the video, the man was wrestled out of his truck and then tazed. The man who was wearing a medical diabetic tag was in severe diabetic shock with blood sugar level of 11.
Diabetic shock often results in confusion, aggression, shaking, sweating and disorientation.
El Reno’s police chief said his officers had no way of knowing the man who was resisting arrest was in need of medical attention.
El Reno Police Chief Ken Brown defended his officers in saying “His actions, his demeanor, his lack to communicate led the officers to believe he was under the influence of intoxicants or narcotics.” With an attitude like that, it is easy to understand why people get tasered so easily in El Reno. Brown is ignoring the fact that the man was not resisting. His officer (following the view of too many officers) view the use of a taser was warranted when people do not get out of a truck when commanded.
This taze first and ask questions later is all too common with police tasering people trying to rescue loved ones, sitting in the wrong seat in football games, funeral pallbearers, dancing naked, and of course, just for fun.
Perhaps lawsuits over incidents like this latest tasering will create the deterrent that is clearly missing internally in departments like the El Reno Sheriff’s office.
For the video, click here.