New Mexico Teen Girl Tasered In The Head By Police Chief (VIDEO)

The use of tasers by law enforcement is becoming increasingly controversial as more examples emerge of them being used improperly and causing victims serious harm. This New Mexico teen was arguing with her mother, so her mother brought her to a police station to get help (it's unclear what kind of argument they could have been having that would warrant police intervention).

The girl ran off and the police chief chased her and ordered her to stop. When she didn't, he tasered her in the head. The giant scar and stitches in the teen's head show the tasering was terribly brutal, and it's difficult to see how this could in any way be justified.

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Comments

[helonias]

I thought they stoned unruly children in the bible belt.

Like the good book says.

[huffponewbie]

As a New Mexico citizen I can safely say that this state is far from being a bible-belt state. The metropolitan areas are very liberal and the rural areas tend to be inhabited by devout catholics whom i do not equate with the baptists that comprise the bible-belt.

[AndyWright68]

Better news coverage and dash cam video. This pos cop needs to do time for this assault.

http://www.youtube.com/user/CopsOutofControl#play/all/uploads-all/0/fizo-sOSE6o

[KriTiKiT]

what a weak man, he could not put hand cuffs on a 14 year old girl... what a *^&&%^$^%#­*%^#&%^$&%­@#&^%$*&^%­(*&%^$*#%#­^$@^&%*^&$­*$^. lock that man up for brutality.

[ReelBusy]

Taser the mom that can't control her kid.
Then Taser the cop that doesn't know limits on brutal force.

too many cops are going straight to using the taser rather than correctly assess the situation and react accordingly.
Like that Grandma that got tasered recently for a traffic stop when the cop didn't like her talking back.
Cops are losing their skills in non lethal situations.

[KriTiKiT]

that was Travis county Texas! she refused to sign a ticket

[DixieMelody]

Don't citizens / drivers have a legal right not to sign a ticket they disagree with?

[OkieIntellectual]

Uhh NO, she got tasered because she was trying to push the cop out into oncoming traffic. Did you even watch the video? ANY reasonable person would conclude that, given all the available options, that cop did the right thing.

[Democrab]

Isn't this the same sheriff that wouldn't let Rambo have lunch? Seriously, though, this guy needs to do some prison time for going so far over the line.

[KriTiKiT]

I dare them to tase me, Ive been struck by lighting and all that happened to me where my fillings got hot, I was tased repeatedly as a bodyguard during training, it just made my vision pulse... I'll complete the current around that weak man's neck...

[bronceye]

It takes a certain type of person to be a cop-too lazy to work, too chicken to steal.

[Peets101]

What stunned me more than what the police chief did is the very large number of comments in the local paper, justifying his actions. One ex-cop even seemed to be suggesting that in the old days, she would have been shot, and that would have been ok.

Excerpt from the ex-cop's comment (spelling and moral errors are his, not mine):

###

As I commented before. Chief Hatcher could have used his firearm. There would have been different consequences then. We didn't have tasers when I was a Cop. We used lethal force period. No warning shots. We ordered suspects to comply and only used deadly force as a last resort. Usually when the suspect heard the slide chamber the round and looked down the end of the barrel, they complied. It is sad to see the girls head like that, but it is not Chief Hatchers fault she ran. After all who went to the Cops to get assistance with the domestic matter? It turned out less than perfect. A child got injured, and a Cop put on administrative leave. I for one believe Chief Hatcher did his job to the best of his ability. The child will recover, hair will cover the scar.

###

Horrifying.

Here is link to article in the local paper:
http://www.cnjonline.com/news/leave-34336-administrative-chief.html

[speaker145]

The problem with this ridiculous comment is that this girl was NOT a suspect. She was not under ARREST. She had committed NO crime. She did nothing wrong except run away from an argument with her mother. This is ridiculous. Police abuse has gotten way out of hand since they started using tasers. Next, we'll be hearing stories about police using tasers on small children who won't stop crying.

[AndyWright68]

Yep. Here is where a 6 year old was tasered and police of course were justified. They taser elderly to infants. It's sad how this country is falling apart.

[AndyWright68]

Oops, forgot the link. 6 Year old tasered by police!

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/11/15/taser_kids_zapped/

[Mildmannered]

I am glad that he is an EX-cop.

[doug108]

What the hell could he have shot her for?

[amdezurik]

well it was the custom (not sure if an actual law) way back when that if a father didn't think his son was "right" he could ask a local "law" officer to excecute him...ah yes and people try to recreate those days...

[LOCUTUS13]

Tasers are too easy, it's time to go back to beating people senseless with nightsticks.

[skantea]

This isn't new, remeber this 15 year old in seattle?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75n_-ddPA7Y&feature=fvw

[rebopine]

At least the cop in this case is getting the book thrown at him.

[doug108]

Is he getting charged? (Oops, accidental pun.)

[KriTiKiT]

there was a Old lady tased at a traffic stop in texas... she was like 85 and the cop was upset because she refused to sign a traffic ticket! the chief said he was justified,.

[OkieIntellectual]

No, you need to go back and watch the video again. She was tasered because she kept trying to shove the cop out into traffic. Old lady or not, it was completely justified.

[noudidnt]

I'm sure the cop was qualified.

sarcasm off

[DixieMelody]

I read in an Abnormal Psychology textbook in college that people (mostly men) who have sociopathic tendencies become criminals or go into law enforcement.

[sixletters]

I was in the military from 1988 to 1992 and came to believe the same thing about some of the people I served with. That's why it makes me feel so uncomfortable when I hear blind praise of anyone who wear's a uniform. I hate saying it, but the truth is there are some real low life's in every segment of our society, including the military.

[OkieIntellectual]

I noticed the same thing in my six years in the Army. The military seems to attract (and accept) both the best and the worst of society.

[Peets101]

Kudos for speaking the truth that no one likes to admit. I had the same experience in the Navy. No one talked about "sacrifice for God and country" -- we were there for adventure, education, travel, and because our grades weren't good enough to get into college. No heroes -- just a bunch of adolescents looking for direction.

[gnostic19]

We have let the pigs get away with anything in the name of idol/hero worship.

[propaganda must die]

I agree completely. They are not heros. For the most part, they are thugs.

[emncaity]

"For the most part, they are thugs." "Pigs."

What a couple of idiots. It's true there are too many people with serious personality disorders who go into law enforcement or the military. It's true that if the facts in this incident are accurately rendered, no question this was wrongful, and no question there are other incidents, too many of them, and that we ought to staff and fund very serious efforts to do better.

So let's see your evidence that "most" cops are this way. Put up or shut up.

[BlueIndependent]

Sounds like a situation that started with a parent that doesn't know how to deal with obstinate kids. Taking her to a police station to seek help? What, did the teen threaten to kill the mom or something? And this police chief is a piece of work too. What law was the child breaking by running away? Was she actually running away if the chief was close enough to do that to her head? This taser stuff is getting out of hand. Next thing you know it'll be de rigeur to taser a pulled-over speeder simply because s/he gives lip to the highway patrol. It seems like the taser is becoming a real job crutch for the less capable officers out there.

[AndyWright68]

Dash cam video of that POS cop chasing that girl before assaulting and torturing her!
http://www.cnjonline.com/video/index.php?bcpid=1155316076&bclid=1155254655&bctid=28897971001

This channel has police brutality videos organized by play lists. (makes Rodney King's look like a citation)
AMAZING POLICE ABUSE CAUGHT ON TAPE!!
http://www.youtube.com/user/CopsOutofControl

Article on Police Brutality
http://www.lewrockwell.com/roberts/roberts224.html

[iridium53]

Contempt of cop is a felony punishible by up to death in all 50 states.

Congratulations to the mother for taking her child to the cops so she can be maimed and disfigured.