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Tooele County to screen UHP Taser case

Presumably officials are under no obligation to EVER make the tax-financed investigation public? How is this anything less than a coverup? Why no mention, or followup by the media?

How come no one ever reported on Trooper Gardner's past complaint history, which was hinted at about 2 months ago? Why no followup?

The omissions in this story are so obvious, one must conclude the media is actively complicit in the coverup.

Sad, sad, sad!

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I totally agree with Roger! This most definetly is a cover up by the police force. This taser incident is police bruatality! Jared is fighting for all citizens by pressing forward with a lawsuit. I will feel must safer after Officer Gardner is no longer on the highway looking for opportunities to shot victims with his taser gun! Go Jared!

I totally agree with Roger. This incident has been covered up by the Vernal area UHP. Jared is fighting for all citizens of Utah by fighting for his rights. I will feel much safer when Officer Gardner is no longer on the highway looking for his next victim to taser! His actions were police brutality and it was wrong!

It's time to leave UHP Trooper John Gardner alone. A good man doing a tough job, I know this as he helped me during a hard time. Young BROKE newly divorced 2 kids abused mom with a car 2 years out of registration, new job, I just needed a break to help me along and make me feel of some value. He pulled me over shocked at my reg. after my story (no insurance as well) he warned me what could happen and let me go, with where to get help and a small ticket. He could of had me impounded and many other things but he didn't. It was the first break I'd had in very long time.

I'm sure Officer Gardner has done some very commendable things, as Lauri has said. He is just very lacking in some communications skills, and some self control. A friend was stopped by him a few years ago on her way to a critical Dr. appointment. She was almost 9 months pregnant and having problems, so her Dr. had told her to come in ASAP. She was exceeding the speed limit by no more than 5 miles, Gardner pulled her over, she explained her situation, and he told her she was not pregnant, she was just fat and she had always been fat, and if she didn't sign the ticket he would put her in jail. That doesn't sound very professional to me, and those were very hurtful comments. By the way, she had a very cute little boy. When the Tooele Co. Attorney's office is able to listen to the whole recording, especially the last part that is not on You-Tube, he will discover the very rude, unprofessional, and outright untruthful comments Gardner made about Jared, his wife, the Masseys in general, and the events surroung Jared's arrest.

It would appear the Utah Attorney General's investigation didn't arrive at the same findings as the investigation done by UHP. I had a feeling that would be the case. If the AG's investigation addressed the entire video, and it seems it has, then there's no way they could find Gardner's conduct to be reasonable, or even legal for that matter.

Recklessly leaving Massey laying in cuffs on the side of the road, after the arrest, is going to come back to haunt the trooper and UHP. I doubt any criminal charges will be filed against Gardner, but the fact will remain that the two investigations didn't come to the same conclusion. UHP didn't address the entire video, and as a result, they acted hastily in publicizing their findings of reasonable, legal conduct on Trooper Gardner's part. Doing so, has proven to be very misleading to the general public.

Some here even view it as an attempted cover-up. Hopefully the AG will see to it that that's not the case, and release their findings to the public. UHP's Internal Affairs investigation should be treated in exactly the same manner, if you don't have anything to hide, then don't keep it hidden.

If Officer Gardner had at least told Jared that he was under arrest that may be one thing, but to just bark orders is another.
He never once told him how fast he was going. I wonder how he even knew, by the way he pulled right in behind Jared on the highway (Calibrated eyeball guess?).
I really hope that the fine officer gets his just desserts.

It's easy for you and me to sit back, view the video, and know that everyone came out of this relatively unharmed. That's not how it feels when the incident is unfolding. Driver began the interview confrontational and antagonistic, and as the incident progressed he became over-emotional, irrational, and unpredictable--a toxic combination. Driver had many opportunities to act like a mature adult and accept the citation with grace, but he took none of them, leaving Trooper with few options. Tasing the driver was the safest way to defuse the situation, for all concerned.

If people will watch the 3rd part of the complete unedited video (also on u-tube by the same poster),they can hear some very interesting items . As officer Gardner is explaining what happened to a fellow officer , he never mentions fearing for his safety . No mention is made of the right hand near his pocket or Massey's supposed "attempt to get the weapon from his car". After the video was made public and the UHP had to investigate one of their own , poor trooper Gardner was suddenly a victim trying desperately to protect himself . Were all of Gardners past complaints covered up as well ?

John, let me taze you and then tell me that you are relatively unharmed. And I so admire the mature adult actions by the Trooper. Few options? He had tons of options. And if you believe that he handled it the safest way then go back to North Korea!

Gardner screwed up. He got arrogant and bombastic and it seems to me that he wanted to "teach this guy a lesson." And for all those out there who say 'tough job - doing your best - split second decision' etc. etc. I say you are absolutely right. And this trooper needs a new job. He obviously can't handle himself in the one he has. And before you start whining, I am retired Houston PD.