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Cops Tase Lady Liberty

She wouldn't leave traffic median

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 14, 2013 4:12 PM CDT

(Newser) – It must have been quite a sight: A Fort Worth police officer Tased Lady Liberty three times at a busy intersection, reports the Dallas Morning News (as spotted by Boing Boing). The good lady was actually a 19-year-old guy dressed in costume and waving to drivers on behalf of Liberty Tax Services from an intersection median—a city no-no. Police say he refused orders to leave and got Tased when he resisted arrest.

The LoweringtheBar blog assesses things and finds that the cop was probably in the right. But "even if arresting somebody dressed as the Statue of Liberty is justified, you really should try to make sure diplomacy has completely failed before resorting to force," it adds. "It just looks bad."

File photo: This is a law-abiding Lady Liberty in Los Angeles.
File photo: This is a law-abiding Lady Liberty in Los Angeles.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 22 comments
Marelicia
Mar 16, 2013 2:43 AM CDT
"Police say he refused orders to leave and got Tased when he resisted arrest."When I hear this, I ALWAYS fail to understand the fake charge of "Resisting Arrest." I wonder what was the initial criminal Charge for him to Resist Arrest.   What was he being Arrested for BEFORE he was Tased and Arrested for Resisting Arrest? Cop:   Leave now. LadyLiberty: (says nothing, but continue waving) Cop: You're under arrest.  Put down your sign and place your hands behind your back. LadyLiberty: (says nothing, but continue waving) Cop:  You are under arrest for Resisting Arrest. (Cop Tased him and Arrests him for Resisting Arrest). But what was the initial criminal Charge?  It seems that the fake Charge of Resisting Arrest must be coupled with another criminal Charge.  Just saying.
fazed
Mar 15, 2013 3:49 PM CDT
I hope he at least remembered to say "Don't Tase Me, Bro!" But seriously...  If you deploy your taser as a law enforcement officer, it should be treated just as seriously as if you discharged your service weapon-- mandatory investigation into the circumstances, etc. Tasers cause all kinds of damage to a person's body and the police have no idea if that individual has a pre-existing heart condition, etc.  It needs to be an absolute last resort. Not just: "He didn't do what I said, so I tased him."
right2dave
Mar 15, 2013 12:34 AM CDT
I live in the DFW area. Get these friggin people out of traffic.

 
Fort Worth • Taser • strange stuff

 
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