Shocking Ending to an Illegal Ride

Filed in archive News on April 26, 2007

According to the Greensboro, North Carolina News-Record, a group of ATV riders were illegally riding in the Reidsville Industrial Park. Approximately 10 atvs who were reportedly riding illegally on city land were asked to pull over by police.

All but two of them fled. Those two were cited. Shortly afterward, two other riders were seen, one stuck, the other helping get him un-stuck. One of the police shot one of riders who was "backing away" with a taser. The rider was trying to pull the stuck ATV out when he was tasered.

No report has been issued as to whether the shot was justified under the Reidsville "use of force" law pertaining to tasers. Officers must submit a report after using a taser with the stipulation that any use of force is intended to protect an officer or a third party.

I'm not quite sure how backing away on an ATV is going to hurt an officer or third party, except in their ego.

Don't get me wrong, those guys deserved to get ticketed for riding where they're not supposed to, maybe even impound the ATVs, but to taser them?? Without knowing all the details, I'd have to say that's a bit excessive.