Cops Strap Woman to a Chair, Torture Her with Taser Over Refusing to Sign Ticket

[Origanalist]

WATCH: Cops Strap Woman to a Chair, Torture Her with Taser Over Refusing to Sign a Ticket



Boulder, CO — A Boulder County woman got an unfortunate lesson in police brutality recently and the video of it looks like something out of 1930s Germany. After attempting to exercise her rights not to incriminate herself, she found out the hard way police will not only taser you when you’re in handcuffs, but they’ll taser you when you’re completely restrained.

Lauren Gotthelf filed a federal civil rights lawsuit Tuesday against several officers and the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office for an incident which took place on Nov. 25, 2017.

Gotthelf got ticketed for smoking in public and not having her dog on a leash. She protested the charges by refusing to sign the police citation, an action which immediately resulted in her being arrested. It was such a minor infraction, it seems, but one which ultimately led to her torture she alleges. Her case shows that even the tiniest of infractions, if refused by citizens, can and will lead to those citizens getting kidnaped, caged, and in Gotthelf’s case, tortured.

Sgt. Chris Reiss claimed on video Gotthelf was suicidal and put her on suicide watch — something she immediately denied, calling the cops “nuts” for thinking then pointed out the obvious. She said if they really believed she was suicidal they should send her to the hospital. Also, there was no video of Gotthelf saying anything suicidal. But since cops think they have it all figured out, instead of getting her true medical help, they placed her into police suicide protocols.

They isolated the woman, placed her in a smock and then, according to the lawsuit, they put her into “a restraint chair, and inflicting multiple pressure point pain compliance techniques, and culminating in Sergeant Reiss tasing her despite the fact she was fully retrained and could not move…”

Far from giving Gotthelf help, the suicide protocols ended up to what most cop watchers would claim is state-sanctioned torture. Her lawyers agree. Attorney Mari Newman had the perfect adjective to describe her torture, calling it sadistic, especially for tasering her while completely immobile.

That’s not going to help somebody who’s suicidal. That’s just sadistic…If they truly believe that Lauren was suicidal, the best response would’ve been one of compassion one of humanity. But instead, what they did is immediately escalate the situation and treat her with unnecessary brutality…She was fully restrained, handcuffed behind her back and strapped into a restraint chair with somebody’s hands around her neck. I mean, she could not move if she wanted to and yet, they tased her.

As feisty as she sounds from the story, Gotthelf immediately called out her torturers for the improper treatment. She said, “You tased me for no reason,” to which officer Reiss responded, “No, I didn’t.”

According to the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office policies, supposedly police have the right to taser you even though you are completely restrained. While the policy reportedly exists, the risks are present just as well. Over the years, the Free Thought Project has consistently reported on the potential for tasers to be deadly. Not only have suspects been tasered by police in showers, leading to their deaths, but tasers have also been deployed on inmates who ultimately succumbed to their lethal injuries. Many of these inmates were in chairs just like Gotthelf.

When it comes to opting out of police torture, there’s simply no check box available. If they want to torture you they can, they will, and they’ll get away with it. Sometimes they get away with murder, all because they wear a badge. Cop apologists will likely justify their way out of holding officers accountable by saying something like, “Well she should have just signed the citation.”

For those people, we have one reply: the Fifth Amendment. Why should a woman get arrested for choosing to remain silent and not sign a citation? Why should people get arrested and subsequently tortured for not signing an arbitrary piece of paper. It’s a police state people, and it’s getting worse.

Video at link..https://thefreethoughtproject.com/bo...sign-a-ticket/

[CCTelander]

You know what'll make this better?

Handing out tens of millions of dollars more worth of military hardware to the cops, further militarizing cops at all levels and establishing pre-crime programs so they can arrest even more innocent people.

That'll fix things right up.

[Brian4Liberty]

Policy was followed, she was uncooperative, plus she’s a racist!

Boulder County Sheriff’s Office officials responded Friday to a lawsuit alleging excessive force, saying that jail deputies followed policy and used an appropriate amount of force to restrain a woman who is alleged to have made suicidal statements while in their custody.

The suit was filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court in Denver on behalf of Lauren Gotthelf, 34. Gotthelf’s lawyer, Mari Newman with Killmer, Lane & Newman, alleged that her client experienced “unreasonable force” and “extreme pain” while in jail custody Nov. 25, 2017, including being strapped into a restraining chair and being shocked in the thigh with a stun gun, while jail officials used multiple pressure point pain compliance techniques. As a result, Gotthelf has opted to sue the county, the sheriff and five deputies.

In a statement released Friday afternoon, Boulder County Sheriff’s Cmdr. Mike Wagner responded to the suit, citing “factual disagreements” with its allegations and said that jail officers “used a deliberate and calculated amount of the minimal amount of force” in accordance with policies.

“When Ms. Gotthelf arrived at the Boulder County Jail, she was disruptive and was placed in a holding cell,” the statement reads. “Staff tried to de‐escalate her behavior, but Ms. Gotthelf was argumentative and unrelenting.”
...
“Ms. Gotthelf continually made negative, vulgar, and racist comments to deputies,” the statement said. “She continued to yell insults for forty‐five minutes. As the video depicts, Ms. Gotthelf continued to be resistant and disruptive, and jail personnel determined she would be placed in the restraint chair, which was necessary for her safety.”
...
The statement also addresses why deputies would use a stun gun on a restrained person, noting that a Taser may be used if a person is uncooperative. It states a Taser can initiate a “neuro‐muscular lock‐up, which causes less pain risk of injury for the individual than pain compliance gained through physical force.”
...
More: https://www.dailycamera.com/2019/11/...cessive-force/

[bv3]

As above, white lady, nothing to see here.

[oyarde]

These revenuers there are serious about collecting infraction money. Cigarettes are expensive . I guess out there if you are going to have the audacity to walk around and smoke with an unleashed dog you better sign your ticket and pay your fine . Your insurance man is going to drop your life policy when he finds out you are seeking tasings as recreational .

[Dr.3D]

This should work wonders for public relations.

[donnay]

Hmm...what is that talk about women being weak?

[Anti Globalist]

At least they didn't torture her with cigarettes and a blow torch, sexually mutilate her, and then dump her head first into a septic tank.

[The Rebel Poet]

I wonder if any of these animals have swon an oath or affirmation to uphold the Constitution and could be hanged as traitors for violation of the 8th?

[CCTelander]

I wonder if any of these animals have swon an oath or affirmation to uphold the Constitution and could be hanged as traitors for violation of the 8th?

Policy was followed. Uncooperative racists deserve it. Nothing to see here, Mundane. Move the $#@! along.

[heavenlyboy34]

I wonder if any of these animals have swon an oath or affirmation to uphold the Constitution and could be hanged as traitors for violation of the 8th?

They do, but you never know if they cross their fingers behind their backs...

[pcosmar]

Hmm...what is that talk about women being weak?

Never heard that from me..
I have never known a woman that could physically harm me,, as far as muscle and bone strength..

I have seen emotional strength that is Epic.

and I have been in that Chair. (self invited)

[Origanalist]

I wonder if any of these animals have swon an oath or affirmation to uphold the Constitution and could be hanged as traitors for violation of the 8th?

[CCTelander]

They do, but you never know if they cross their fingers behind their backs...

LOL!

[Superfluous Man]

Imagine the astronomical odds to run into 5 cops all at the same place and time who all just happen to be part of the bad 1% of cops.

[Origanalist]

Imagine the astronomical odds to run into 5 cops all at the same place and time who all just happen to be part of the bad 1% of cops.

She should go buy a lottery ticket.