Tasered Granny Sues Town

Cops say 87-year-old threatened them with knife

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 30, 2010 1:20 AM CDT

(Newser) – An 87-year-old Oklahoma grandmother Tasered by police while she was hooked up to an oxygen machine in bed is suing the town of El Reno. Lona Varner is seeking at least $75,000, AP reports. Cops were called to Varner's home by her grandson, who told them she was suicidal, according to police. An officer used the Taser when she pulled a kitchen knife out from under her pillow and threatened cops with it, police said.

Varner—who served as a civilian volunteer on hospital ships in the Pacific during WWII—told police: "If you try and get the knife I will stab you and kill you. I killed four Japs in World War II, and I would not bat an eye killing you,” according to the police report. She was treated in a local hospital for burns and then held in a psychiatric ward for 6 days. Her lawyer says police treated the frail woman brutally, ripping the flesh on her arms as they grabbed her.

[Images (1)]

[Quotes (1)]

Asked by reporters if the the Taser hurt, Varney said, "Well, that's for me to know and you to find out.” (AP Photo/Khampha Bouaphanh, File)

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Even if you reasonably believe someone's going to commit suicide, do you Taser them?
- Brian Dell, Varney's attorney

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 30 comments

nj12nets

Jan 28, 2011 12:14 PM CST

If an 87-year old hasn't lived long enough to make their own life-changing/ending decisions then who does? If this women is bed ridden and wants to kill herself, would hitting her with high-voltage electricity rally be the way to handle the situation...and the family member calls the cops instead of a psychiatrist or doctor...wtf

Marky O Reilly

Jul 1, 2010 2:41 AM CDT

In my opinion it seems many officers go far too quickly to the taser. Tasers are not innocuous anaesthetics to end troublesome situations. It's a violent assault that carries risk of injury. Its basically a safer alternative to a bash on the head with a nightstick. It should be looked at in those terms. Of course we don't know the exact situation, it does appear that tasering a woman who is confined to her bed is extreme but if she was about to stab herself it may of been a necessary call.

peoplearecrazy

Jun 30, 2010 3:06 PM CDT

They thought she may have OD so they had to end the situation and get her to the hospital. If they don't do anything and she kills herself then you would all be crying about that.

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Tasered Granny Sues Town