Tased!

Tonight I used my Taser for the first time. Ever. This is what my official narrative reads like. Names and numbers have been deleted, just because:

On January 8, 2009, at approximately 1759 hours, I observed a brown Honda Accord eastbound on Hurricane Shoals near Lyle Circle. A GCIC/NCIC check of the vehicle’s tag, XXXXXX indicated that the tag had expired on January 5, 2009. I activated my blue lights and stopped the vehicle in front of the Brand Banking Company located at 141 Hurricane Shoals Road.

I approached the white female driver, identified as Ms. H, and asked for her driver’s license. Ms. H produced a driver’s license and I explained that I had stopped her for the expired registration. Ms. H said that she had just gotten her insurance and emissions, but said that since she had a 2009 sticker, thought it would be okay to continue to drive the car. I reminded Ms. H that her registration expires every year on her birthday. She said that she didn’t realize that that was the case in Gwinnett, that she was used to the way Barrow County does things. I explained to Ms. H that it was State Law, and not a county ordinance.

I asked her to remain in her vehicle while I returned to my patrol car. A GCIC/NCIC check of Ms. H’s license indicated that her Georgia Driver’s License was suspended for DUI, Second, on January 18, 2006, and was served on the same date.

I again approached Ms. H and asked her if she could produce a letter of reinstatement for her driver’s license. Ms. H retrieved a file folder out of a shopping bag in the front passenger seat of the vehicle and began to flip through the papers inside. I could see that the folder was labeled “Honda Accord”. While she was flipping through paperwork, Ms. H continued to talk about her tag. I reminded her that I had asked about her driver’s license. She continued to discuss the vehicle. I again reminded her that I was inquiring about the driver’s license, and at that time, she told me that she had the letter at home.

I asked Ms. H to step out of her vehicle and she complied. I told her she was under arrest for Driving with a Suspended License, and asked her to place her hands behind her back. I was reaching for her left hand to handcuff her, when Ms. H pulled away from me and stuck her upper body inside the open driver’s side window of the vehicle. She then reached for her purse.

I pulled Ms. H back from the car and maneuvered her, facedown, onto the hood of the Honda and at that point, called for additional officers to assist me. She continued to resist me by not allowing me to place the handcuffs on her and saying she didn’t know what she had done.

At that point, Ms. H pushed away from me and tried to run around the front of the car. This was witnessed by Xxxxx Xxxxx of Georgia Pardons and Parole. I grabbed Ms. H from behind, using both of my arms, and again placed her on the hood of the Honda. I still had my handcuffs in my right hand. I was able to secure them in the waistband of my uniform. I told Ms. H that if she continued to resist, I would use the Taser.

Ms. H continued to resist, and rolled onto her back. She again tried to get away from me and was pushing herself off the hood of the Honda. I was able to get my Taser in my right hand, and deploy it. Ms. H was struck in the lower right leg by one probe. The second probe missed her completely.

Ms. H managed to move around the front of the Honda and was at the curb in front of the bank. She sat down on the grassy area next to the curb, but continued to refuse to give me her arms so that she could be cuffed.

At that time, the witnesses, Xxxx Xxxx and Xxxx Xxxx, approached the area. I asked them to stay back where they were. They later stated that they had witnessed the struggle between Ms. H and I, as they were in the traffic on Hurricane Shoals Road, and had stopped to offer their assistance.

Other officers then arrived on the scene and I was then able to handcuff Ms. H. The handcuffs were double-locked, and the probe was removed from Ms. H’s pant leg. The spent cartridge and single probe were secured and placed in my patrol car. Ms. H was searched and placed into the backseat of my patrol car.

At that point, I realized that during the struggle, I had sustained a cut to the last joint of my right-hand ring finger, and was bleeding. Medical attention was not necessary.

Ms. H's vehicle was subsequently impounded to Lance Wrecker Service.

I then transported Ms. H to the Gwinnett County Detention Center. As a precaution, she was removed from my patrol car by the deputies on duty and escorted inside for processing.

I proceeded to the Magistrate Court where I secured warrant number 09W0xxxx for Obstruction of a Law Enforcement Officer (Felony). In addition, I issued Ms. H citation number 2970xxx for Expired Registration and citation number 297xxx for Driving While License Suspended.

The spent Taser cartridge (serial #H08-1091xxx) was placed into evidence upon my return to Lawrenceville Police Headquarters. In addition, Sgt. R took two (2) photographs of the injury to my finger. These were also placed into evidence.

The truth of the matter is that she was flat out crazy. She had all kinds of prescription meds in her purse. The only one I recognized was an anti-depressant. As she got out of the car, she started talking about some man trying to black-mail her. Off the wall stuff. I forgot to note that in my report. At the jail, she was talking about para-normal things, and people sticking needles in her. Judge gave her a huge bond, and the deputies put her in a cell to calm down. Last I heard, she was still there, and that was just before I came home.

The best part is, because her tag had only been expired for 3 days, I would have just reminded her that she needed to get a new one, had her Driver's License not been suspended. She would have been let go with a verbal warning. The cut on my finger is what made the Obstruction charge a felony. I am not sure how it happened, but suspect I cut it on my handcuffs.

I am wiped out! I have been battling a sinus infection since before we went to Paris, and the cold air and exertion got to me. I've been coughing my lungs out since! The guys have been teasing me about this 120 pound, five foot four inch, 52-year old, woman kicking my butt. I just couldn't get my hands on her....