On her knees, Cincinnati Police tase Daughter of City Councilman

Cincinnati Police Department, Ohio – August 28, 2009 – Teenaged daughter of City Councilman Tased, Charges: She’s accused of obstructing official business and possessing an open container.

A videotape of the incident recorded from a camera in one of the police cruisers doesn’t show the tasing, but other officers on the scene have told the Chief that Thomas was on her knees with her hands up.

"What we’re trying to accomplish here is for a citizen to submit to arrest," the Chief said Friday. “If a person goes to their knees or puts their hands up, I’m here to tell you that with 38 years of experience, that person is submitting to arrest. They’re not being combative. They’re not being threatening. When you’re on your knees, hands up, that means ‘I give up.’"

Memphis, Tennessee - the City of Memphis has said no to the police carrying Tasers and there is a Petition circulating for congress to hold hearings on the number of deaths being caused during an arrest where this non-lethal weapon is used.

Los Angles, California – August 27, 2009 – Shocked three times with a ‘stun gun’ the man died.

Montgomery County, August 27, 2009 – After an argument over a bicycle a man was tased and charged with domestic assault.

Alabama - Never Pass the Sobriety Test – You Could Be Tasered – Fear is the Standard – Punishment the Norm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmByfTKKUV4

Newest Taser Weapon – August 2009 - Taser XREP – Slight problem develops with users ability to aim it.

New Scientist reports:

In test firings, [the Taser XREP] proved difficult to aim, as the aerodynamics of the projectile caused it to fall below the aiming point at a range of 20 metres. “Any lack of accuracy means a greater risk of hitting an unintended part of the body and therefore greater risk of injury,” says security researcher Neil Davison.

New Scientist – August 26, 2009 – Long-range Taswer reignites safety debate

Government-funded tests on initial versions of the new Extended Range Electronic Projectile (XREP) have revealed possible health risks to people on the receiving end, New Scientist has learned. The manufacturer, Taser International of Scottsdale, Arizona, says the issue has been addressed in redesigned devices, but these have yet to be independently tested.

Unlike the current Taser X26, which fires darts attached to short wires, the XREP is wire-free. Its projectile, the size of a shotgun cartridge, is designed to pierce the target's skin and contains battery-powered circuits that deliver a debilitating shock. It has a range of 20 metres or more, compared with 5 metres for previous Tasers.

Glenrock, Wyoming - A 76-year-old riding an antique tractor in a parade and the police Tased him because of an argument over where the parade should stop. No charges will be filed.

Arizona City, Arizona – A 37-year-old mand died of what is reported to be cardiac arrest after being Tased. The need to stop was a traffic violation.

The suspect resisted arrest and the deputy tasered the man.

Police say the taser was not successful on the suspect and he continued running until collapsing to the ground. Officers said the suspect had gone into respiratory and cardiac arrest.

Corpus Christi, Texas – August 24, 2009 – A 67-year-old woman was robbed by an unidentified woman using a stun gun.

The thief is described as a Hispanic female, 18 to 23-years-old, 5' 1", 110 to 125 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair. 

Taser International Inc (TASR:NASDAQ) – Stock price closed at $4.44 on September 2, 2009.

Shares of TASER Int'l (TASR) Fall 2% After French Court Suspends Use of Stun Guns For Local Police

1:41 pm ET 09/02/2009- StreetInsider

Shares of Taser Int'l (Nasdaq: TASR) are down almost 2% today after reports that the French court has suspended the use of Taser stun guns for local police.

Dow Jones reports that the Taser stun guns were given to police without proper training and safeguards.

The State Council, which is the highest court of appeal in France, rejected a September 2008 government decree allowing France's 20,000 local police to carry Tasers.

Currently, 4,615 Tasers have been issued to French police.

... and that folks is the news.