Posted 12/05/2005 05:33:00 PM by Douglas

I can understand how you might end up with a few bruises if you fail to comply to police instructions, but should there be some kind of discretion as to what force is deemed reasonable and applicable by the police if you don't? Would 240 pound man with a tire-iron receive the same reaction from one deputy as an 110 pound woman with a cell-phone would receive from two deputies? Apparently not. The video is pretty sickening. [via]

"It's really quite a mystery as to why he tased her," said attorney Ralph L. Tambasco, who claims the 40-year-old professional photographer had been cooperating and was in the grip of a second officer when Deputy Greg Lockhart pressed the Taser to her arm outside a Fishers convenience store in November 2003.

Speaking to your attorney before the state puts a needle in your arm is resisting? Wow. But it gets even weirder:

Carter stands by Lockhart, a four-year road deputy who became the subject of an internal investigation last week after a friend was found dead in the deputy's home in Cicero.

Cicero police suspect 24-year-old Zack Russell died as he slept in Lockhart's living room after an evening of drinking.

Carter initiated his probe to verify what happened and whether Lockhart's off-duty conduct violated any agency rule.

As for his on-duty conduct with Marshall, Carter can only find fault with Lockhart's use of the phrase "Taser time," saying it was "inappropriate and probably should not be used" in the future.

So forcing a seemingly compliant woman to the ground with electrodes is OK because she wants to speak to her attorney, but using the phrase "taser time" crosses the line?