I was just curious how some of your Departments / communities have reacted now that TASER released that advisory, I got kinda curious after I saw this idiotic news article that our paper put out.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY - Recommendations by a popular stun gun maker have prompted Escambia Sheriff's Deputies to heed the warnings.
Taser International is now saying the device they make presents a health risk.
Channel Three's James Jackson joins us with more.
James?
The manufacturer says in some cases tasers can cause cardiac arrest.
But the family of a man, who says the taser was a factor in his death, want the recommendations taken even further.
Cynthia Wilson holds a picture of her uncle, the late Robert Boggan.
He died four years ago, after family members say he was tased, pepper sprayed, injected with sedatives and strapped to a chair in the Escambia county jail.
She believes the taser contributed to his death.
Cynthia Wilson/Robert Boggan's Niece, "My Uncle had several of those marks on his body where those officers had tased him. I mean it was all in his chest, on his stomach, on the inside of his legs, on his arms. He had them all over his body."
Researchers at Taser International say if police tase a person near the heart, who happens to be on drugs, it can seriously injure them.
Sgt. Ted Roy/Escambia Sheriff's Office, "It's just a recommendation. It makes sense."
Sergeant Ted Roy says Escambia Sheriff's Deputies will be encouraged to follow the guidelines.
200 law enforcement deputies and 100 detention deputies there are taser certified.
Sgt. Ted Roy/Escambia Sheriff's Office, "Our trainers are going to just emphasize when possible, aim for the lower muscle mass. There's more muscle down here, more fatty tissue."
Cynthia Wilson/Robert Boggan's Niece, "I think they shouldn't use the gun period. They already have one gun. A 38 or whatever they put on their hip. I think they need to stop the tase gun."
Amnesty International says more than 350 people have died after being stunned by a taser.
The organization says in 50 of those cases autopsies linked the stun gun to the cause of death.
Taser International is now saying the device they make presents a health risk.
Channel Three's James Jackson joins us with more.
James?
The manufacturer says in some cases tasers can cause cardiac arrest.
But the family of a man, who says the taser was a factor in his death, want the recommendations taken even further.
Cynthia Wilson holds a picture of her uncle, the late Robert Boggan.
He died four years ago, after family members say he was tased, pepper sprayed, injected with sedatives and strapped to a chair in the Escambia county jail.
She believes the taser contributed to his death.
Cynthia Wilson/Robert Boggan's Niece, "My Uncle had several of those marks on his body where those officers had tased him. I mean it was all in his chest, on his stomach, on the inside of his legs, on his arms. He had them all over his body."
Researchers at Taser International say if police tase a person near the heart, who happens to be on drugs, it can seriously injure them.
Sgt. Ted Roy/Escambia Sheriff's Office, "It's just a recommendation. It makes sense."
Sergeant Ted Roy says Escambia Sheriff's Deputies will be encouraged to follow the guidelines.
200 law enforcement deputies and 100 detention deputies there are taser certified.
Sgt. Ted Roy/Escambia Sheriff's Office, "Our trainers are going to just emphasize when possible, aim for the lower muscle mass. There's more muscle down here, more fatty tissue."
Cynthia Wilson/Robert Boggan's Niece, "I think they shouldn't use the gun period. They already have one gun. A 38 or whatever they put on their hip. I think they need to stop the tase gun."
Amnesty International says more than 350 people have died after being stunned by a taser.
The organization says in 50 of those cases autopsies linked the stun gun to the cause of death.
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