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Trooper's Taser use pops up on YouTube

I support police officers. I work in emergency services. However: this is the worst video I have ever seen... This police officer should be arrested and charged with unlawful force. This can not be tolerated. Not to mention: he left the person lying on the side of the road. Does the officer have an obligation to protect people? Is lying on a highway protecting people? I think not! I can not for one minute feel that this man was a threat to the officer. UHP should be embarrassed. Keith

This reminds me of what is wrong with America, and what, if not rectified will be the recipe for our demise. Respect. I could go on and on, but suffice it to say, I was taught to respect authority. That meant my elders, law-enforcement, teachers, whatever. Kids now have this sense of entitlement that is unmatched anywhere else on this Earth. They think that if they make a mistake they can just hit the 'reset' button like on their video game and start over. Well, life is not like that. There was once what is called the Greatest Generation. This is not it. What we have is the Worst Generation. No wonder other countries hate us. We are gluttons in every thing we do. This sniveling little brat needs the full measure of the law brought against him and that trooper needs a pat on the back for doing his job. I'm still dumbstruck by this. To have it called into question like the officer was in the wrong. WAKE UP MORONS! It's not the teacher, the officer, the bus driver, or etc. IT'S YOUR KID. Wake up! By the way, I'm 30 years old.

Disgusting... simply disgusting. The officer should be fired immediately.

I first read this article and was outraged at UHP. How could they be so power hungry and devious. Then I watched the video. Jared Massey was out of line and the officer did his job. The trooper was trying to arrest him and Jared was walking back to his vehicle, assuming he was going to drive away. Kudos to the trooper for staying calm and doing his job well.

A little quick on the taze and a very slow on his people skills.

Former officer

The police officer pulled the taser gun out at the moment he asked Mr. Massey to turn around. In an effort to control the situation, this trigger-happy officer actively escalated the situation and ended up discharging his weapon on a calm and rational man. The officer then lied about his actions to Mrs. Massey and the backup officer. This provocative and unprofessional behavior should mean that Gardner is suspended pending investigation. I cannot understand why this man is still operating in his duty in light of his conduct.

Erik,

Have you seen the video--I have. There are several other facts that are not in the article--when the family received the video, it was totally scrambled and tampered with. They had to hire a computer specialist to unscramble it--kind of makes you wonder what the trooper was trying to hide. Second, the officer, by law, has the responsibility to the driver to prove to him that he was speeding. He did not do that. Finally, why were the two officers taunting the distressed and heavilly pregnant wife? I'm sure that is not kosher with department policy. I hope that the UHP moves quickly to settle this before it blows up nationally. This is an embarrassment to the hard working members of the Utah law enforcement community.

Than between a trooper and a driver could be argue, misunderstand, etc. Next step to see a judge to have speeding charge or dismiss the ticket, which the judge, the driver and the trooper have neutral and work together. The trooper has a reason is protect himselif when the driver was too close to him. (the school or the trooper training trained him the rules). My opinion is the trooper is wrong because he stopped the driver right after the speed limit sign stands. The trooper should wait until like 2 or 3 miles advance after the sign, if the driver continue to drive fast or drive slow down as "processing" after see the sign.

Well Erik, while I will give you what you say about this generation, I still think this cop was out of line. There was no danger at all to anyone when he pulled out his taser. The only danger that was ever introduced into this situation was the danger the Trooper introduced. Should the guy have signed the ticket and then fought it in court rather than make a big scene on the side of the road with the trooper? Yes. Should he have been tasered for failing to follow the instructions of the trooper, at the first sign of non-compliance? Absolutely not. If there is a suit against the trooper, I would like to hear his explaination of what danger required him to use his taser. From that video, seems any justification he might come up with will pretty much ruin his credibility.

Those are all the skills this cop had to handle the situation? If done properly he could have diffused the situation, but this cop's ego got in the way. Not only did he exercise bad judgement and use excessive force, he didn't even warn the guy before he tazed him. Most cops I've met are professional in every since of the word. This guy is a loose cannon and needs to be removed from the force. He's given the UHP a black eye, and has helped create a situation where people will be less trusting of law enforcement.

Everyone knows you can't approach a cop from behind, especailly after you have refused to sign the ticket (which you have to do). Then you walk away when he tells you 4 times to put his hands behind his head.
The taser wasn't called for, and then the reason why he was getting pulled over was shady for sure. And the cop started to lie to the other officer in the video about what happended.
Both in the wrong, but the kid posed a clear threat by walking behing the officer (twice in fact). STUPID!!!

Great idea Erik, we can just taser the little nippers.

It amazes me that people think that they can resist police and expect to not suffer the consequences. The man was willfully disobeying a lawful command from an officer, and got tasered for it. Why should anyone be surprised? If it were otherwise, everyone would be non-compliant towards officers. If the guy felt that he was being ticketed erroneously, he should have fought his battle in the courtroom, not on the street.

Of course there are only negative comments about the video on Youtube. The person who put the video there deletes any comments that might support the officer.

Incredible. I am speechless. How can anyone take the side of someone using unlawful force against someone who did nothing other than using their right not to sign a speeding citation? There is absolutely no obligation to do so and is an admission of guilt. The individual pulled over had every right to be directed to the speed limit sign and shown why he was guilty. This highway patrolman was attempting to coerce the individual that was pulled over into signing the ticket. The cop tased the guy for no reason. Also, gotta love how the cop left the guy on the concrete, vulnerable to be hit by oncoming traffic. Refusing to read your Miranda rights is another serious omission, and I hope that this trooper gets fired because he can't make sound decisions.

I am respectful of our police officers, and they have a hard job to do. However, I am definately against those individuals who are placed in positions of law enforcement that abuse their position.

Erik, I am very glad that you are not a key decision maker in this country.

I have the highest regard for the professionalism of the Utah Highway Patrol. However, this appears to be an example of an officer whose "badge was too heavy for him."

I went to watch the video also, and left a comment. Since the person moderates the comments to his youtube video I doubt my comment will appear. Nice way to get public support, although one sided.

Those officers out in the desert put their lives on the line every day. They don't know when stopping someone if they are a housewife or a murderer. If an officer places you under arrest you don't turn around and walk away. The guy was way out of line. Sign the ticket and fight it in court.

But I only respect authority that handles that power with responsibility, restraint and respect. America is not about rolling over for anyone in a position of authority; this country was founded on the principle that rule of law goes both ways, and that it is our civic duty to keep our eyes open for abuse of power and not to accept it when we find it.

It's good to see things come out to the public. I'm sure there are many people who get treated bad by cops but their voices are never heard.

We now live in a Police State. Accept this, and you'll enjoy a tranquil life.