Police use Taser on fan on field at Phillies game

[Master Baiter]

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/92735444.html?cmpid=15585797


Do you think this was justified use of force, or abuse of police resources?

In the past, some of these situations have not ended well, i.e. fatal seizures.

 

[TropicThunder]

The kid just ran around the field a couple of times and got tasered?

I'd say that's abuse. You don't stungun a teenager for something so harmless. Exactly who was he a threat to?

 

[McNoodle]

I think the only one who would have any right to taser him would be the centerfielder. Obviously the kid was trying to steal his position and you have to protect your livelihood!

On a serious note however, while it was excessive, the kid doesn't belong on the field and ultimately he was taken down during a crime. Try and tell Tom Gamboa that fans jumping onto the field are harmless.

 

[AmishTickler]

People are all up in arms about this around here. I applaud the police officer who used his Taser gun on this idiot running around the field. I don't care how old he was. If you're old enough to make the decision to jump the fence and run around the field like an idiot and try to get your 15 minutes of fame, you're old enough to take the consequences. Hopefully this will deter any other idiots from running onto the field during any sporting event. It's against the law and should not be encouraged. How do you know the kid didn't have a weapon on him?

Exactly, McNoodle. To those who don't know who Tom Gamboa is, he was the first base coach for the Kansas City Royals who was attacked by a FATHER AND HIS 15-YEAR OLD SON at Comiskey Park in Chicago in 2002. I guess that was their idea of a father/son bonding experience?! Also tell Monica Seles that the police officer used excessive force. Monica was stabbed in the back with a knife by a crazed fan who ran onto the tennis court in 2003. She was never the same tennis player after that.

sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/news/2002/09/19/royals_whitesox_ap/

Don't complain when they erect 20 foot high fences at sporting events to keep out the idiots from running onto the playing field. I think they already do this at some soccer matches overseas. I can see that happening someday in the U.S. if these kinds of acts continue. It's very simple. Don't run onto the field at a sporting event. The "kid" got what he deserved and he wasn't hurt in any way. Bravo Philadelphia police.

 

[Coup de Grace]

Only a Tazer shot? These are Philadelphia fans. I would have thought Lethal Force would have been mandated. 😛

 

[mass1926]

Tasers have killed people and the kid clearly wasn't gonna hurt anyone. That toy cop was just embarrassed that his fat ass couldn't catch the kid so he stunned him. I don't agree with the kid being a moron, but against everyone else's views, I sorta hope he sues the shit outta the agency that gave that dipshit a stun gun. Those things are only meant to be used in a threatening situation.

 

[maniactickler]

I support the use of the tazer. maybe if people knew the consequences, they wouldnt be running out on the field anymore.

 

[SamuelKhan]

Only a Tazer shot? These are Philadelphia fans. I would have thought Lethal Force would have been mandated. 😛

They booed Santa Claus, cheered when Michael Irvin got seriously injured, booed Kobe Bryant when he came home for the All-Star game...

 

[mass1926]

I support the use of the tazer. maybe if people knew the consequences, they wouldnt be running out on the field anymore.

Running on the field is usually a distraction. I can see tazering the dude if he'd running at a player, but a kid holding a towel, I mean for christ sakes. The toy cop clearly tazered him cuz he was fat and outta shape and getting humiliated in front of thousands of people watching his weeble wobbling ass not be able to keep up. I don't care if they tackled him, dragged him somewhere hidden and kicked the shit outta him, but a tazer is dangerous and has caused heart failure to people in the past. Not necessary to use one unless a person is in clear danger of being attacked.

 

[BellybTickler]

ROFLMAO that's hilarious 🙂

 

[StevePerry4Ever]

The kid got what was coming to him. People have about as much chance tripping and breaking their neck as they do from being killed by a taser.

As someone who has been tased, it's never excessive force.

Yeah it hurts like hell while it's shocking you, but once the shocks gone, you're fine. Maybe a little wiser for it.

I'd prefer getting tased than tackled and having my face shoved in the ground.

 

[DeBris]

it's a public nuisance. It is just a fair enforcement on him. maybe he should try it sometime in a circus to find things out.

 

[usgrant]

Taser is absolutely the least lethal option in a crowded stadium!!! All police at stadiums have guns. When the asshole got tazed there was no chance that he could have wrestled a weapon away from a police officer...Pepper spray would have put cops and fans in danger...The Taser shot only put the asshole fan in danger, the way it should be!

 

[maniactickler]

I would support public caning as a substitute.

 

[DeBris]

anything fair could work like dogpile.

 

[Soda Bobinski]

You don't wanna get tasered? ... don't run onto the field like a damn fool.

End of story.

 

[Gentler]

I support the decision to taze. What are the alternatives? .45 caliber to the leg? A stern talking-to? Come on.

 

[Master Baiter]

I guess he asked his dad if it was OK first. WTF?!

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5161474

 

[Banshee]

Monica Seles

Had her career ruined by a guy who merely reached over and stabbed her. How does anyone here know for a fact that anyone who gets on a playing field has no malicious intent.
John Lennon got shot by a guy walking on the street.

To be honest I'd be quite pleased if they had snipers ready to execute anyone getting out on the field. In fact I'd chip in if cost was an issue.

 

[badreligion]

The kid just ran around the field a couple of times and got tasered?

I'd say that's abuse. You don't stungun a teenager for something so harmless. Exactly who was he a threat to?

It is this kind of attitude that gets cops killed . More and more cops are afraid to do what is required to subdue a person because they have to think " oh , if I use any kind of force on someone will I get scrutinized for it or could I possibly face a law suit " .

 

[Angel77]

Well........maybe he shouldn't have run out on to the field. Just a thought.

Sure, it was probably all in good fun and a "look at me" moment but how in the hell are authorities supposed to know which is which? If they would have just let him go and if he pulled a gun and killed someone, the police would have gotten slammed for "not doing enough."

Don't do stupid shit if you don't want to deal with stupid repercussions.

 

[Brock Samson]

It is this kind of attitude that gets cops killed . More and more cops are afraid to do what is required to subdue a person because they have to think " oh , if I use any kind of force on someone will I get scrutinized for it or could I possibly face a law suit " .

Way too dramatic. There is a difference between tazing some idiot on the street who is putting up more than just a little bit of a fight, or some coked up junkie who isn't feeling any of the pain whatsoever, and tazing a 17 year old who wanted to join the list of idiots who have defaced baseball fields with their footsteps over the years. Who was he threatening exactly? A little too much force. At the same time, while I don't support him tazing the kid, he shouldn't be punished for it in any way. The game continued, and the kid will learn something out of it. But I have reasons for not approving this.

I remember back in 03 when Royals' coach Tom Gamboa was attacked by some drugged idiot and his teenage son in Chicago. Where was the tazer? Hell, why didn't they just shoot either one of them? In fact, one of them had a knife, and the kid even clocked one of the security officers in the face. Where was the force then? That is a situation in which I would say replace the security staff for not doing their jobs. However, this dumb kid just wanted attention, so he ran around on the field. Tazing him was a bit much. As a private security officer, I know that people will always judge the forced utilized by police/private security officers. Hell, I've been investigated before for the use of force I deemed necessary. It happens. But there is a thing called discretion. And this cop made an error in judgement on this one. I don't think he should be punished, because his error came in the middle of a pursuit, but his decision could have been better.

Usually the security staff at ballparks just spear the idiots stupid enough to get onto the field. You get onto the field, you get a taste of the NFL. But not only was this cop slightly excessive, he wasn't the best of shots. The video shows the cop missing the kid once before shooting him. Suppose he had hit one of the security staff? You've got an idiot running AND a man down. Not the best situation to be in. You have to know when to use a specific kind of force. His judgement was a little off, thats all.

On the upside, it is makes one of the funniest pictures ever!

 

[Need2BTickled]

To bad if the guy is stupid enough to run onto the field then he should get whatever is coming to him up to and including tasers

 

[COOLCAT88]

If I was a baseball fan, i'd be pissed too. I paid to see a baseball game; not some idiot run onto the field wasting time by running around..

 

[badreligion]

Way too dramatic. There is a difference between tazing some idiot on the street who is putting up more than just a little bit of a fight, or some coked up junkie who isn't feeling any of the pain whatsoever, and tazing a 17 year old who wanted to join the list of idiots who have defaced baseball fields with their footsteps over the years. Who was he threatening exactly? A little too much force. At the same time, while I don't support him tazing the kid, he shouldn't be punished for it in any way. The game continued, and the kid will learn something out of it. But I have reasons for not approving this.

I remember back in 03 when Royals' coach Tom Gamboa was attacked by some drugged idiot and his teenage son in Chicago. Where was the tazer? Hell, why didn't they just shoot either one of them? In fact, one of them had a knife, and the kid even clocked one of the security officers in the face. Where was the force then? That is a situation in which I would say replace the security staff for not doing their jobs. However, this dumb kid just wanted attention, so he ran around on the field. Tazing him was a bit much. As a private security officer, I know that people will always judge the forced utilized by police/private security officers. Hell, I've been investigated before for the use of force I deemed necessary. It happens. But there is a thing called discretion. And this cop made an error in judgement on this one. I don't think he should be punished, because his error came in the middle of a pursuit, but his decision could have been better.

Usually the security staff at ballparks just spear the idiots stupid enough to get onto the field. You get onto the field, you get a taste of the NFL. But not only was this cop slightly excessive, he wasn't the best of shots. The video shows the cop missing the kid once before shooting him. Suppose he had hit one of the security staff? You've got an idiot running AND a man down. Not the best situation to be in. You have to know when to use a specific kind of force. His judgement was a little off, thats all.

On the upside, it is makes one of the funniest pictures ever!

Its not dramatic its the truth .