Trooper uses Taser to stop man on motorcycle

**Won Hunglo** · 03-19-2011, 05:47 PM

He got off easy. TX DPS would have just shot him & did the paperwork.

**Stealth Stalker** · 03-19-2011, 07:10 PM

Originally Posted by StlouisX50

I could ask for better, no residential chase, and a trip to his house. If there were further charges and that's why they pursued him involving a felony then thats different. However police did not announce those details. With that said, bad choice popo's IMHO. Which one would have risked less lives?

Okay, sorry. I thought we were discussing an actual event, as reported in the news article you posted. I didn't realise that you were intending to debate a hypothetical figment of your imagination, for which we have no report or other evidence, that you are making up as you go. Obviously, I would be silly to debate that.

Perhaps you should start a new thread in a more appropriate forum for your fantasies, and leave this one to actual news discussion.

**krypton2** · 03-19-2011, 08:06 PM

Using a Taser on a moving object (whether it's a person running, a guy on a motorcycle, whatever) is always something that can become hazardous but you gotta consider all factors of using the Taser - what would happen if you use it, what would happen if you don't use it, and what the person did.

In this case if the Trooper didn't use his Taser it's likely that the motorcyclist would have taken off again and that risks mostly his own life, but those around him too. There's always the possibility that a driver of a car could swerve after seeing a motorcyclist fly past them and in the process crash into something.

Unfortunately, a lot of department policies would prohibit an officer/deputy/trooper from taking this action and the guy may have never been caught. However, the trooper did what he felt would be efficient at the time and it was...the operator was taken into custody.

I know if this same incident occurred around here the motorcyclist would get away as it seems the only way they caught back up with the motorcycle was due to the helicopter following him... when a motorcyclist is going 100mph as the story indicated there's not even a chance that the plate would be able to be read, much less knowing if the motorcycle even had a plate or not. It was convenient that KHP had an available helicopter - if a helicopter was required around here there would likely be well over a 20 minute delay and by that time the motorcycle would be gone. Even with Pittsburgh around here, neither the city, nor the county/sheriff's office, nor any department nearby has a helicopter...the only option is PSP with very few helicopters and airplanes available statewide.

**StlouisX50** · 03-19-2011, 08:20 PM

The chase debate has been in the interest of the public for years in St. Louis. Some say chase people some say do not. I have no problem with a chase as long as it does not create a high danger to life or limbs.

While driving like an idiot is risky in it self, you can't tell me being chased by anyone being the police or a hater you are going to drive a lot more dangerous and take risks to a higher level.

The guy should have stopped for the police yes, but we even have members on the forum that will try to escape from a ticket by taking off even faster and taking exit ramps , blowing through stop signs / lights ect. until they get to an area that they feel they will no longer have to run. You know this is try LEO's you have always said, "You can't out run a radio".

That's why I insist , if it is not a felony, the car is not stolen, just run the plate , go to their house and drag them to jail. If you can't do that put a warrant out for their arrest. Case closed.

Why in the world would you rather get 3+ units flying from every which way to try to cut off a pursuit? Usually people think of a pursuit as just a chase. That's NOT the case , all you LEO's know this to be true. Leo's are code 3 all over the county trying to assist and get their adrenaline up. All for a speeder in this case.

One last point, you know what happens when someone falls of a bike? The bike continues till something stops it's motion. (the straight path). So making a human fall from a bike is just plain stupid.

Evey one who disagrees with me on this is welcome to their own opinion and I have no hate for ya. We just see it differently and since I have no power to authorize or stop pursuits thats all it is an opinion.

**Stealth Stalker** · 03-19-2011, 08:25 PM

I don't have any significant disagreement with any of that. My disagreement is that any of that has anything to do with this story. The article clearly states they quickly stopped pursuing, and then only encountered the a-hole again later with the help of the helo, which you claim you support. So again, I fail to see what your problem is with this case.