By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.
Don’t Tase Me Bro
A man lay on the ground writhing in agony. From where I was, I could clearly see the wires attached to the probes in hooked into his body. They led back to the officers gun still in his hand. It was a taser gun, but a gun non the less. These things have killed people, plenty of them. Every year, even in Maryland. Why do you think an ordinary citizen is forbidden from owning one?
Realizing I had just witnessed a man get shot with a taser by Baltimore Police, the old beat reporter kicked in. Whipping out my notepad I began to furiously take notes. I spoke to as many witnesses as I could.
The results of my investigation are quite startling. The man unarmed, but apparently he was shot with the taser as a form of compliance, because he was not moving quickly enough.
I do not claim to be an expert, but all of my police training and advanced tactical exercises tell me that use of force is only justified when life is in danger, not just because someone isn’t doing what you want them to do.
Not only was the man unarmed, he was actually found unconscious by the police. A passerby earlier saw him laid out in front of the Govans Manor Apartment building on York Rd. They called 911 and the police responded to an unconscious man. How things went from he man being unconscious, to being a threat necessitating force is still a mystery.
After quietly observing all this for a while, the police soon took notice of me.
Police Officer: You’re a long way from home aren’t you?
Citizen MacArthur: Just out for a walk, I do that a lot.
Police Officer: Anything I can help you with?
Citizen MacArthur: Guess they didn’t tell you everything about me did they?
Police Officer: No they didn’t, you’re the guy that drives the XXXXX car and lives at XXXX right?
Citizen MacArthur: Yup, that’s me. I’m also the guy that’s an investigative journalist, a contract Special Investigator, and an occasional tactical instructor among other things. Knowing you guys were turned loose with 500 hundred tasers on the streets of Baltimore, of course I’m curious when I actually see one used.
Police Officer: Oh, ok, well….thanks!
At 3:25 in the morning, the streets of Baltimore are roamed by a select group. Typically criminals, cops, or crackheads (insert drug/addiction of choice here). Of course, there’s also weird investigative journalist types out for 10 mile conditioning walks with his dog.
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