disorderlyvision
04-12-2010, 11:27 AM
http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/colorado-officer-uses-taser-on-30-students-at-career-fair/19433734
It wasn't the way the career fair was supposed to go.
A sheriff's deputy in Lake County, Colo., has been placed on one week of unpaid leave after reportedly using a Taser gun on 30 students at a Lake County High School career fair Thursday.
According to Sheriff Edward J. Holte, Deputy John Ortega agreed to demonstrate the electroshock weapon on students after they repeatedly asked him to do so.
While the Taser is used by officers to aid in the arrest process, Holte said, its effects are not severe. "It's similar to being stung twice by a bee," he said.
However, one of the students "tased" by Ortega was taken to the hospital and treated for welts on the skin.
"Actually touching the students with the tools of our trade is not something the department authorized," Holte told AOL News. "The officer should have used better judgment."
Sponsored by the Lion's Club, the annual career fair drew approximately 400 students this year, including seventh- and eighth-graders from Lake County Middle School.
"We are very disappointed with the sheriff's department right now," Cathy Beck, the principal of Lake County High School, told AOL News. "How sad that this extreme lack of judgment has marred what has always been a wonderful event."
School Superintendent Bette Kokenes told AOL News that she reported the incident to the police and has been cooperating with the District Attorney's Office in its investigation to determine if any criminal charges will be filed.
"My No. 1 concern was to make sure all of our kids were OK," Kokenes said.
In the wake of incident, no one from the sheriff's department has contacted the high school or the superintendent's office, according to Beck, Holte and Kokenes.
As for Ortega, "he's a soft-spoken guy and he understands he made a mistake," Holte said. "He's going to kick himself more than I ever could."
The district attorney's office said it would make a determination in the coming week as to whether to press further charges.
It wasn't the way the career fair was supposed to go.
A sheriff's deputy in Lake County, Colo., has been placed on one week of unpaid leave after reportedly using a Taser gun on 30 students at a Lake County High School career fair Thursday.
According to Sheriff Edward J. Holte, Deputy John Ortega agreed to demonstrate the electroshock weapon on students after they repeatedly asked him to do so.
While the Taser is used by officers to aid in the arrest process, Holte said, its effects are not severe. "It's similar to being stung twice by a bee," he said.
However, one of the students "tased" by Ortega was taken to the hospital and treated for welts on the skin.
"Actually touching the students with the tools of our trade is not something the department authorized," Holte told AOL News. "The officer should have used better judgment."
Sponsored by the Lion's Club, the annual career fair drew approximately 400 students this year, including seventh- and eighth-graders from Lake County Middle School.
"We are very disappointed with the sheriff's department right now," Cathy Beck, the principal of Lake County High School, told AOL News. "How sad that this extreme lack of judgment has marred what has always been a wonderful event."
School Superintendent Bette Kokenes told AOL News that she reported the incident to the police and has been cooperating with the District Attorney's Office in its investigation to determine if any criminal charges will be filed.
"My No. 1 concern was to make sure all of our kids were OK," Kokenes said.
In the wake of incident, no one from the sheriff's department has contacted the high school or the superintendent's office, according to Beck, Holte and Kokenes.
As for Ortega, "he's a soft-spoken guy and he understands he made a mistake," Holte said. "He's going to kick himself more than I ever could."
The district attorney's office said it would make a determination in the coming week as to whether to press further charges.