Teen falls 30ft; breaks his back, gets tasered 16 times by police.

[fren.]

Parents of a 16-year-old boy in intensive care with a broken back want to know why police Tasered their son 19 times rather than calling an ambulance for help.

Citizens noticed Branson, Mo., teenager Mace Hutchinson walking alongside the road and, fearing for his safety, called 9-1-1.

"We called the police. My wife was afraid he was going to get ran over or hit," said witness Doug Messersmith. "He looked a little agitated but, other than that, he didn't look to be falling down drunk or anything like that."

When police arrived, they found Hutchinson under an overpass on U.S. 65 Saturday morning, Springfield's KY3 News reported. The boy had fallen 30 feet off the overpass and was lying on the shoulder.

When the boy didn't respond to police, they Tasered him, repeatedly.

"I'm not an officer, but I don't see the reason for Tasering somebody lying there with a broken back. I don't consider that a threat," his aunt Samantha said.

Hutchinson was later admitted to the hospital, where he was put under intensive care for his injuries and is listed in fair condition. His family believes police added to the trauma after he fell from the overpass.

"According to the doctors, all injuries are consistent with a fall," Samantha said.

His father said Hutchinson did not jump but fell onto the pavement; however, no one knows why.

"They tested his system. He was clean of drugs and alcohol. We don't know why unless just being in shock and the whole thing in itself caused him to forget everything," Hutchinson told the television station.

While Hutchinson remains in the hospital for major surgery on his broken back and heel, the family questions police actions that morning. His father claims if police hadn't stunned the teenager 19 times, his critical surgery would not have been delayed by two days.

"The Tasering increased his white blood cell count and caused him to have a temperature so they could not go into the operation," he said.

However, Ozark police say the wounded boy was a threat.

"He refused to comply with the officers and so the officers had to deploy their Tasers in order to subdue him," Capt. Thomas Rousset said. "He is making incoherent statements; he's also making statements such as, 'Shoot cops, kill cops,' things like that. So there was cause for concern to the officers."

Authorities say their use of a Taser weapon should not be questioned, because they were trying to help Hutchinson to safety.

"It's a big concern for the officers to keep this guy out of traffic, to keep him from getting hurt," Rousset said.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.p...w&pageId=71096

Yea, I'm not sure either.

[Tormentormike]

What the fuck.

Cops are overpaid morons, always.

[Correction]

What the fuck.

Cops are overpaid morons, always.

Except for the ones who stop the criminals that try to murder, rape and steal right?

BUT WAIT OVERGENERALIZING ON A KNEE-JERK REACTION IS FUN amirite?

[Cheerios]

I figured this would be posted ages ago I believe it happened on the 26th of July.

[SephYuyX]

DONT TASE ME BRO

[Eanae]

/facepalm

[Khamsin]

I'd probably get tasered too if, when the cops approached, I started saying to shoot them. From the cop's perspective, they don't know why he was laying there. He could have been some drugged up homeless guy, for all they knew.

[Kuya]

I mentioned this before, why 19 times?

[EternityEnd]

..Words fail me. This is absolutely ridicufuckinglous. GUESS WHAT, COPS, THE KID WITH A BROKEN BACK CAN'T FUCKING SHOOT YOU-- Oh, what's that, he didn't even have a gun to shoot the cops with? Huh.

I would probably want to kill someone threatening me with a taser when I can't even move, as well. Amazing. Cops need to get tasered 20 times as part of an entrance exam. This is totally out of hand, there's a tasering of a harmless citizen every week it seems like.

[BRP]

Bullshit he should be dead, only Batman can survive that. I've seen it in a movie.

[Feedmenow]

I'd wager that the whole reason that he got tased was his refusal to comply with cops. Tasers might be the better method of subduing someone who's badly injured rather than just grabbing him while he's struggling, causing his back to be injured further by thrashing about.

Even if that's not true in the slightest, saying "kill cops" near cops is a dumbass move at best.

[Kaisha]

Still......does it really warrant it 19 times?

Are people that resistant to tasers? I always figured my muscles would be out cold after 2 shocks.

[jmc]

so wait.....

Who is saying the kid was tasered 19 times?

It just seems like the parents are saying it....then the newspaper is repeating what they are saying.

Unless I'm missing a doctor or Officer saying it happened 19 times?

[Ruiner]

Authorities say their use of a Taser weapon should not be questioned

Uh huh.

[shihei]

Yea I am sure his refusal to comply with cops has nothing to do with the fact he fell 30ft and broke his back right?

19 times is extremely excessive.

I'm not sure but it seems to me like tasering someone would make them thrash around a bit as well.

Good intentions? forgetaboutit

[Xavier]

Clearly, when the police told the boy to stand up and he refused to comply because his back was broken, all bets were off.

How the hell do you even taser someone 19 times, how many god damn tasers did they have? Don't these things have a small recharge time?

[guartz]

*cops show up to the scene where a teenage is lying on the ground, trying to move*

*With guns drawn, one of the officers approaches the suspect*

Cop1: This is the police, get up slowly and let me see your hands.

Kid: Ughhh *remains motionless*

Cop1: GET THE FUCK UP NOW!

Kid: ugh, i canufdhfg

Cop2: Taze him

Kid: AHAHGHA FUCK AHSJASHASA

Cop1: Like that? Gonna get up now? Taze him again.

this repeats for a few minutes

Kid: AAGAGAHHH *passes out*

Cop1: oh shi, I think he has a broken back.

Cop2: Fuck, man. uh, got weed on you?

Cop1: No, but you did hear him say how he wanted to kill us?

Cop2: Yeah, thats it.

[jmc]

so........ can someone show me where it says the kid got tasered 19 times, besides the father claiming it?

Its my understanding, that to a certain point.... 19 shocks should leave someone, umm dead.

[Kuya]

Serious lack of information here.

[guartz]

so........ can someone show me where it says the kid got tasered 19 times, besides the father claiming it?

Its my understanding, that to a certain point.... 19 shocks should leave someone, umm dead.

Thomas Rousset, police cpt.
417 581-6600

Call and find out, you brave journalist you.