From Deseret News archives:
Taser victim says UHP is 'stonewalling'
He says agency has failed to act on his request to investigate
- Page:
- < Previous
- 1
- 2
"If you were able to look in his eyes and feel the body language, we thought, 'Geez, this guy is really mad over a speeding ticket,'" Massey said on Wednesday.
After Massey's repeated refusals to sign the citation unless he was allowed to show Gardner a nearby speed limit sign, the trooper ordered him out of his SUV.
"I get out of the car thinking he's going to actually let me see the signs. That was the impression I had," Massey said. "I'm walking back pointing at those signs and out of the corner of my eye I see him pointing a gun at me."
Gardner hadn't pulled his gun but had pulled his Taser, which he fired into Massey's back after Massey failed to comply with three additional commands to "turn around." On the video, Massey responds to the 50,000-volt shock by stiffening up and falling backward, cutting his head open on the highway.
"I'm laying on the ground thinking I'm dying," Massey said. "I can't put into words how horrifying that is."
"Do you want another hit with this," the trooper asks.
"No. I want you to read me my rights," Massey replies.
"I want you to follow my instructions and do as you're told," Gardner says.
Massey and his wife are still deciding whether they'll file a lawsuit against Gardner and the highway patrol. "We're looking at options how can we solve this problem, how can we protect this from happening to someone else again if it takes a lawsuit then I guess it does," he said. "We haven't made up our minds."
Roden said the public response to the video has been overwhelming.
"We're not actually taking a number, but we've received hundreds of e-mails and phone calls," he said.
Gardner remains on duty, and Roden said he is not aware of any past use of force complaints against the 14-year UHP veteran. The UHP's internal investigation has been expedited since the posting to the dash cam video on YouTube and is expected to be completed early next week.
For Massey, the media spotlight he and his family have been in for the past two days has not been enjoyable at all.
"Telling the story this week and publishing it has brought back horrific memories," he said. "I still don't like people knowing that this happened to me. I could do without my name being out there, without the attention. It's nothing that's excited me."
E-mail: geoff@ubstandard.com
- Page:
- < Previous
- 1
- 2
Recent comments
I really think that this problem stems from the mormon faith, which...
Daniel | Jan. 11, 2008 at 11:04 p.m.
I agree totally with UNBELIEVABLE. What does Gardner expect. Your...
Anonymous | Dec. 2, 2007 at 6:37 p.m.
I agree 100%. The first time i saw the video i thought maybe massey...
Critch | Dec. 2, 2007 at 6:05 p.m.
- Unions press to drop insurance tax 1:23 p.m.
- Obama: Troop drawdown gradual 1:10 p.m.
- Officer kills Times Square scammer 1:09 p.m.
- Bone drugs, breast cancer study 1:08 p.m.
- Obama defends wars, accepts Nobel 1:02 p.m.
- Man loses bet, has high-def TV shot 12:51 p.m.
- Ronaldinho player of the decade 12:48 p.m.
- Stocks rise as trade deficit narrows 12:45 p.m.
- Botched launch behind strange lights 12:18 p.m.
- AOL free from Time Warner 12:17 p.m.
- Crash landing next to I-15
- Nude bathers cited for lewdness
- Palin signs books, chats with fans
- Few details on missing W.V. mom
- Jazz fall apart late at L.A.
- Psychologist: Mitchell schizophrenic
- Panel passes BCS playoff bill
- I-15 expansion barreling south
- Mutated version of H1N1 found
- Utes crash the glass to get big win
- Letters: Global warming a lie
249 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
206 - BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
192 - Cougars going back to Vegas
150 - Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
148 - Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax
140 - Palin signs books, chats with fans
139 - Max Hall wants to look ahead
123 - Revive full food tax?
104 - Panel passes BCS playoff bill
101
Love him or hate him, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch knows how to get attention.
My wife Lisa and I would prefer never to argue. But that's not going to...
For the latest news in the health care debate and how it affects you...
re: Anonymous Thanks for your support, Mom!
You look okay from here.:)
And how many of the Ute players are up for some prestigious award? Exactly.
'How could young elementary school students bully or mistreat gay students?'...
I work right next to the crash site. A couple of my colegues saw the plane...
Send this DeMier to jail too. I am sick and tired of this crap - since when...
I'm sorry but Fox was a yawner. Not much laughing going on the the theater I...
You people are hilarious. Public nudity is a crime, period. Thus, if you...
Ultra Bob is right if we all take the time to think about it. What rights...
'Again, you don't even attempt to address the point I was making.' - 12:48...


