Monday, December 3, 2007

Women get tasered too !! Example 1

Ottawa woman tasered Saturday morning
CanWest News Service

Sunday, November 18, 2007

A Taser was used to subdue a woman who side-swiped a taxi and crashed into a police cruiser after running over an Ottawa police officer's foot while trying to flee a traffic stop early Saturday morning.

Ottawa police said the officer had attempted to pull over the suspected impaired driver just after 2:30 a.m. when she sped away, running over the officer's foot. According to police, the driver then crashed into the taxi and a cruiser before being stopped again.

Police said officers were forced to break the vehicle's window when the driver attempted to flee again. Following a brief struggle, officers pulled the woman out through the window and a supervisor at the scene deployed the Taser to gain control and arrest her.

"She was actively resisting arrest," said Ottawa police Insp. Pat Flanagan. He said officers followed the department's policy regarding use of the stun guns, which deliver a burst of 50,000 volts of electricity.

Insp. Flanagan said the supervisor deployed the Taser with the "safety of that person, the crowd that had gathered, and the police officers" in mind.

Ottawa police Chief Vern White said the department reviews every situation where a Taser is used.

White said the handle of each Taser is equipped with audio and video recording equipment, and those recordings will be reviewed. The department only recently provided front-line patrol supervisors with Tasers, White said. Previously, only officers with the tactical unit were qualified to use Tasers.

In June 2000, Ottawa became the first municipality in Ontario to arm its force with Tasers.

Police said the officer suffered minor injuries, while the woman suffered superficial injuries. She was treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital as a precaution.

Marlena Sarazin, 30, of Ottawa, is charged with impaired driving, driving with a blood-alcohol level over. 08, dangerous driving, failing to remain at the scene of an accident, failing to stop for police, resisting arrest and driving with a suspended license.
She was released on a promise to appear in court on Dec. 6.

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