\'The pain was so intense . . .\'

Ezliving_Jim · 05-12-2005, 11:15 PM

'The pain was so intense . . .'
Re-enactments show officers bucking to escape

By LATEEF MUNGIN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/12/05

A Gwinnett sheriff's deputy said he Taser-shocked already restrained inmate Frederick Williams five times in 43 seconds because Williams was bucking in an effort to get out of a restraint chair.

Yet two Gwinnett police officers who allowed themselves to be shocked in a videotaped police re-enactment of the May 25, 2004, altercation in the county jail reacted almost exactly the same way as had Williams.

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Melvin Johnson, an attorney representing Williams' family, contends he was arching his back and trying to push out of the chair that night because he was in pain and not because he was trying to fight with deputies.

Williams lost consciousness minutes after being shocked and died in a Gwinnett hospital two days later.

"The pain was so intense that I would have done anything to get away from it," said Taser-shocked Gwinnett police Cpl. Damon Cavender in a statement to investigators after the police re-enactment. "I pulled my body away from it and it caused me to scream involuntarily."

Cavender, like the second volunteer, Gwinnett Lt. William Walsh, was stunned just twice with the stun gun, which packs a 50,000-volt charge.

Walsh's statement was similar, saying he instinctively tried to "get away from the Taser."

Cavender's statement is part of an 11-month police investigation into Williams' death, obtained by AJC Gwinnett News in a state Open Records request. The investigation became public because District Attorney Danny Porter closed his investigation into Williams' death despite protests from the family of the 31-year-old Lawrenceville man.

Porter presented the investigation to a Gwinnett grand jury but did not show them a graphic videotape of the struggle between the burly, 5-foot-9, 195-pound Liberia native and 11 sheriff's deputies. Porter said he offered the panel an opportunity to see the tape, but they declined.

The panel was not asked to consider criminal charges against any of the deputies.

Johnson, who represents Williams' wife and four children, said the police re-enactment proves that Williams' frantic movement was a reaction to the stun gun and not an act of resistance. Williams, who bloodied one officer's nose and vigorously fought others, should not have been shocked until he lost consciousness, Johnson said.

"There was no reason to hit him with the Taser. He had handcuffs on his hands and feet and he was already in the chair," said Johnson. "It is obvious that they were trying to intentionally inflict pain and not immobilize him. It is like sticking a lit cigarette on sombody's chest when he is sitting in a chair. Of course they are going to move."

Williams had been arrested for a domestic disturbance and got into an altercation that injured a police officer before he was subdued and taken to the jail. An epileptic who had reportedly not been taking his medication, Williams had started acting erratically and violently, prompting his family to place three calls to 911.

Williams still had handcuffs on his hands and restraints on his feet when he was carried into the jail and placed directly in a restraint chair. Deputies said they were trying to confine Williams in the chair for his own safety because he was being so combative.

Deputy Todd Butorac told investigators Williams continued to struggle and attempted to stand up during the seating process. He stated that Williams' level of combativeness did not change before, during or even immediately after the Taser shocking.

"The intensity of Mr. Williams was constant throughout the entire process," Butorac is quoted as saying.

Gwinnett Sheriff Sgt. Michael Mustachio was identified as the officer applying the Taser to Williams. Mustachio told investigators he shocked Williams because he was trying to get out of the chair.

"He was arching his back up," Mustachio said. "He looked like a kid you were trying to put in a car seat . . . He arched up again so I hit him again."

Mustachio used the "drive stun mode" of the Taser, applying the stun gun directly to Williams chest instead of shooting it from a distance. Using the weapon that way causes intense pain but does not incapacitate a person, according to Taser International, the Arizona-based maker of the stun gun.

Even though Mustachio is fully certified to use the Taser, he told police investigators that he did not know the difference in how the two Taser modes affect prisoners.

Mustachio, a deputy since 1996, was fired in February for killing a hunting dog on his family's property and then trying to conceal what he had done, authorities have said.

Sheriff Butch Conway said Wednesday he had not seen the police re-enactment. Conway said he has seen the videotape of his deputies' scuffle with Williams and believes they did nothing wrong.

"I would not tolerate anyone trying to intentionally hurt an inmate," Conway said. "In my heart of hearts, I don't believe that they did anything wrong. They were just trying to get him into the chair."

Source

mr belvedere · 05-15-2005, 02:41 AM

That happens everytime I change a facial on an Ultra Sun! Whoa momma!

navigatin1 · 05-15-2005, 08:52 AM

Quote:
On 2005-05-15 01:41:00, mr belvedere wrote:
That happens everytime I change a facial on an Ultra Sun! Whoa momma!

ROTFLMAO!!

Oh yeah, the first time I changed out the facials on my Ultra Sun Magnum, I looked like I was having a fit!!!

Needless to say I shut the power down to those baby's now!!!

Neon Beach · 05-15-2005, 10:10 AM

I gotta get me one of those beds!!

jkonturas · 05-17-2005, 12:52 PM

I have a 625,000 Volt Stunn Gun. I keep it on me at the salon. I have not had to pull it out yet, but believe me, I wont hesitate when the time comes! I will also see if I can get the "stunning" on video, and share it with all of you!!

Neon Beach · 05-17-2005, 02:34 PM

"........see if you can get the stunning......"?

~eyebrows jumping~ I bet if you try hard you can do it!

navigatin1 · 05-18-2005, 07:23 AM

Quote:
On 2005-05-17 11:52:00, jkonturas wrote:
I have a 625,000 Volt Stunn Gun. I keep it on me at the salon. I have not had to pull it out yet, but believe me, I wont hesitate when the time comes! I will also see if I can get the "stunning" on video, and share it with all of you!!

I just tell the wood be robber that in order to open the secret safe, he has to hold onto these two wires right here on my Ultrasun bed.

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05-12-2005, 11:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ezliving_Jim I love Derf!! Join Date: Mar 12 2002 Location: Virtual Reality Posts: 2,421 Rep Power: 10	'The pain was so intense . . .' Re-enactments show officers bucking to escape By LATEEF MUNGIN The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 05/12/05 A Gwinnett sheriff's deputy said he Taser-shocked already restrained inmate Frederick Williams five times in 43 seconds because Williams was bucking in an effort to get out of a restraint chair. Yet two Gwinnett police officers who allowed themselves to be shocked in a videotaped police re-enactment of the May 25, 2004, altercation in the county jail reacted almost exactly the same way as had Williams. EMAIL THIS PRINT THIS MOST POPULAR Melvin Johnson, an attorney representing Williams' family, contends he was arching his back and trying to push out of the chair that night because he was in pain and not because he was trying to fight with deputies. Williams lost consciousness minutes after being shocked and died in a Gwinnett hospital two days later. "The pain was so intense that I would have done anything to get away from it," said Taser-shocked Gwinnett police Cpl. Damon Cavender in a statement to investigators after the police re-enactment. "I pulled my body away from it and it caused me to scream involuntarily." Cavender, like the second volunteer, Gwinnett Lt. William Walsh, was stunned just twice with the stun gun, which packs a 50,000-volt charge. Walsh's statement was similar, saying he instinctively tried to "get away from the Taser." Cavender's statement is part of an 11-month police investigation into Williams' death, obtained by AJC Gwinnett News in a state Open Records request. The investigation became public because District Attorney Danny Porter closed his investigation into Williams' death despite protests from the family of the 31-year-old Lawrenceville man. Porter presented the investigation to a Gwinnett grand jury but did not show them a graphic videotape of the struggle between the burly, 5-foot-9, 195-pound Liberia native and 11 sheriff's deputies. Porter said he offered the panel an opportunity to see the tape, but they declined. The panel was not asked to consider criminal charges against any of the deputies. Johnson, who represents Williams' wife and four children, said the police re-enactment proves that Williams' frantic movement was a reaction to the stun gun and not an act of resistance. Williams, who bloodied one officer's nose and vigorously fought others, should not have been shocked until he lost consciousness, Johnson said. "There was no reason to hit him with the Taser. He had handcuffs on his hands and feet and he was already in the chair," said Johnson. "It is obvious that they were trying to intentionally inflict pain and not immobilize him. It is like sticking a lit cigarette on sombody's chest when he is sitting in a chair. Of course they are going to move." Williams had been arrested for a domestic disturbance and got into an altercation that injured a police officer before he was subdued and taken to the jail. An epileptic who had reportedly not been taking his medication, Williams had started acting erratically and violently, prompting his family to place three calls to 911. Williams still had handcuffs on his hands and restraints on his feet when he was carried into the jail and placed directly in a restraint chair. Deputies said they were trying to confine Williams in the chair for his own safety because he was being so combative. Deputy Todd Butorac told investigators Williams continued to struggle and attempted to stand up during the seating process. He stated that Williams' level of combativeness did not change before, during or even immediately after the Taser shocking. "The intensity of Mr. Williams was constant throughout the entire process," Butorac is quoted as saying. Gwinnett Sheriff Sgt. Michael Mustachio was identified as the officer applying the Taser to Williams. Mustachio told investigators he shocked Williams because he was trying to get out of the chair. "He was arching his back up," Mustachio said. "He looked like a kid you were trying to put in a car seat . . . He arched up again so I hit him again." Mustachio used the "drive stun mode" of the Taser, applying the stun gun directly to Williams chest instead of shooting it from a distance. Using the weapon that way causes intense pain but does not incapacitate a person, according to Taser International, the Arizona-based maker of the stun gun. Even though Mustachio is fully certified to use the Taser, he told police investigators that he did not know the difference in how the two Taser modes affect prisoners. Mustachio, a deputy since 1996, was fired in February for killing a hunting dog on his family's property and then trying to conceal what he had done, authorities have said. Sheriff Butch Conway said Wednesday he had not seen the police re-enactment. Conway said he has seen the videotape of his deputies' scuffle with Williams and believes they did nothing wrong. "I would not tolerate anyone trying to intentionally hurt an inmate," Conway said. "In my heart of hearts, I don't believe that they did anything wrong. They were just trying to get him into the chair." Source

05-15-2005, 02:41 AM	#2 (permalink)
mr belvedere DERFERATOR Join Date: May 10 2005 Age: 39 Posts: 8,591 Rep Power: 52	That happens everytime I change a facial on an Ultra Sun! Whoa momma!

05-15-2005, 08:52 AM	#3 (permalink)
navigatin1 Derf's My *****! Join Date: Aug 17 2004 Posts: 2,130 Rep Power: 6	Quote: On 2005-05-15 01:41:00, mr belvedere wrote: That happens everytime I change a facial on an Ultra Sun! Whoa momma! ROTFLMAO!! Oh yeah, the first time I changed out the facials on my Ultra Sun Magnum, I looked like I was having a fit!!! Needless to say I shut the power down to those baby's now!!!

05-15-2005, 10:10 AM	#4 (permalink)
Neon Beach I'm Banned Join Date: Nov 30 2000 Location: Ontario Age: 45 Posts: 52,065 Rep Power: 0	I gotta get me one of those beds!!

05-17-2005, 12:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
jkonturas Join Date: Aug 27 2003 Location: Rhode Island Age: 31 Posts: 974 Rep Power: 6	I have a 625,000 Volt Stunn Gun. I keep it on me at the salon. I have not had to pull it out yet, but believe me, I wont hesitate when the time comes! I will also see if I can get the "stunning" on video, and share it with all of you!!

05-17-2005, 02:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
Neon Beach I'm Banned Join Date: Nov 30 2000 Location: Ontario Age: 45 Posts: 52,065 Rep Power: 0	"........see if you can get the stunning......"? ~eyebrows jumping~ I bet if you try hard you can do it!

05-18-2005, 07:23 AM	#7 (permalink)
navigatin1 Derf's My *****! Join Date: Aug 17 2004 Posts: 2,130 Rep Power: 6	Quote: On 2005-05-17 11:52:00, jkonturas wrote: I have a 625,000 Volt Stunn Gun. I keep it on me at the salon. I have not had to pull it out yet, but believe me, I wont hesitate when the time comes! I will also see if I can get the "stunning" on video, and share it with all of you!! I just tell the wood be robber that in order to open the secret safe, he has to hold onto these two wires right here on my Ultrasun bed.

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