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May 11, 2008 9:47:23 PM CDT

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Taser Trooper Cleared  

Posted Dec 1, 07 6:46 AM CST in US    Editor's Choice

(newser) – A Utah Highway Patrolman who Tasered a motorist in the back has been cleared of wrongdoing, the Deseret Morning News reports. A public-safety panel found that cop Jon Gardner had been justified in zapping motorist Jon Massey as he was walking back to his car after a traffic stop. Gardner has been getting death threats since Massey posted a dash-cam video on YouTube, where it's been viewed over a million times.

Massey had been ordered out of his car after he argued with the cop and refused to sign the citation he was given. Gardner told him to put his hands behind his back, but he didn't  comply. Massey had his hand near his pocket, the panel found, making Gardner's actions reasonable. "For a law-enforcement officer, that is a very, very scary situation," an official said.

Sources Deseret News (Salt Lake), Associated Press

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Taser Trooper Cleared
Col. Lance Davenport of the Utah State Highway Patrol speaks about Jared Massey being tased by Utah State Highway Patrol Trooper Jon Gardner, during a news conference Friday, Nov. 30, 2007, in Salt Lake...   (Associated Press)
Taser Trooper Cleared
Col. Lance Davenport of the Utah State Highway Patrol speaks about Jared Massey being tased by Utah State Highway Patrol Trooper Jon Gardner, during anews conference Friday, Nov. 30, 2007, in Salt Lake...   (Associated Press)
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Utah Highway Patrol camera, shows John Gardner being taser   (big8news (YouTube))

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