aGameOfThrones
02-14-2014, 11:50 PM
SAN BRUNO -- BART's independent police auditor is investigating after a video of one of the transit agency's officers using a stun gun on a passenger surfaced on YouTube.
The video came from an incident that took place on Jan. 29 about 10:05 p.m., according to a BART police log. According to police, an officer responded to a report that a man was drunk and harassing patrons on a Millbrae-bound train. The officer tried to detain the man but he resisted, police said.
The video shows an officer asking a man several times to get off the train, with the officer becoming increasingly agitated. The man refuses, even sitting down in his seat again, leading to more agitation from the officer. With the man standing, the officer shoots him with the stun gun.
A couple of minutes later, with the man on his stomach and other officers appearing to help with the handcuffing, the officer stuns the man again, this time for nearly 5 seconds.
"Per policy and protocol, BART police has initiated the proper investigation into this incident," BART spokesman Jim Allison said in a statement. The agency had no other comment.
BART police procedures state that for police to use a stun gun, the person must pose an immediate threat. ABC7-TV reported that passengers said the man was drunk but that they did not feel he was threatening. A woman on the train blogged about the incident and questioned the use of force, according to the station.
A woman identified as Vidya Kaipa told another blog that the man was "a pretty nice guy, and was making harmless conversation." Kaipa also was quoted in that blog as saying she "didn't feel at all threatened by him."
Police said the man was taken to Peninsula Hospital for treatment, then arrested on suspicion of parole violation, resisting arrest, and public intoxication.
Video is at link: http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_25132156/report-video-surfaces-showing-bart-police-tasing-man
The video came from an incident that took place on Jan. 29 about 10:05 p.m., according to a BART police log. According to police, an officer responded to a report that a man was drunk and harassing patrons on a Millbrae-bound train. The officer tried to detain the man but he resisted, police said.
The video shows an officer asking a man several times to get off the train, with the officer becoming increasingly agitated. The man refuses, even sitting down in his seat again, leading to more agitation from the officer. With the man standing, the officer shoots him with the stun gun.
A couple of minutes later, with the man on his stomach and other officers appearing to help with the handcuffing, the officer stuns the man again, this time for nearly 5 seconds.
"Per policy and protocol, BART police has initiated the proper investigation into this incident," BART spokesman Jim Allison said in a statement. The agency had no other comment.
BART police procedures state that for police to use a stun gun, the person must pose an immediate threat. ABC7-TV reported that passengers said the man was drunk but that they did not feel he was threatening. A woman on the train blogged about the incident and questioned the use of force, according to the station.
A woman identified as Vidya Kaipa told another blog that the man was "a pretty nice guy, and was making harmless conversation." Kaipa also was quoted in that blog as saying she "didn't feel at all threatened by him."
Police said the man was taken to Peninsula Hospital for treatment, then arrested on suspicion of parole violation, resisting arrest, and public intoxication.
Video is at link: http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_25132156/report-video-surfaces-showing-bart-police-tasing-man