Officials say trooper felt threatened when he zapped a stubborn motorist
By Jason Bergreen The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 12/01/2007 10:24:47 PM MST
SLTrib
Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Jon Gardner used his Taser to zap a motorist who became uncooperative during a traffic stop.
Many people who viewed the confrontation after it was posted on the Web site YouTube thought Gardner was out of line.
However, UHP officials on Friday announced Gardner's actions were justified when he shocked Jared Massey twice during the Sept. 14 incident in Uintah County.
Gardner's actions "were lawful and reasonable under the circumstances," UHP Superintendent Lance Davenport said at a news conference held at UHP headquarters in Taylorsville.
Internal investigators are continuing to review the case.
Davenport acknowledged there was a "communication breakdown" between Gardner and Massey, and that Gardner had alternative options that he didn't use to resolve the situation. Gardner zapped Massey after he refused to sign a ticket, put his hand in his pocket and walked away from the trooper.
The UHP has asked the Utah Attorney General's Office to investigate the incident.
"We recognize and realize the significance of this event," Davenport said.
Massey filed a public-records request after the incident and received the dashboard video from Gardner's patrol car, which he posted on YouTube. The clip has reportedly been viewed more than 1 million times.
Gardner was placed on administrative leave this week, mostly out of concern for his safety, after receiving several death threats from viewers reacting to the video, Davenport said.
"They were pretty direct," Davenport said. "One talked about putting a bullet in his head."
The 10-minute video begins as the officer passes a sign clearly showing a speed limit of 40 mph on U.S. Highway 40.
Gardner pulls over Massey's Dodge SUV and approaches the driver's side window. He twice asks for Massey's driver's license and registration. The second time, the trooper is audibly frustrated.
After a short argument, Gardner goes to his patrol vehicle and returns to the SUV with a traffic ticket. Massey refuses to sign the citation, insisting that Gardner show him the 40 mph sign.
"Well, you are going to sign this first," Gardner said.
After refusing, Gardner asks Massey to exit the SUV, which, at 2:23 minutes into the video, he does.
The pair walk to the front of the officer's car, where Gardner points his Taser at Massey, ordering him to place his hands behind his back.
''What the hell's wrong with you?'' Massey asks, while turning and beginning to walk back to the SUV. Gardner tells the driver to turn around, but he refuses and continues walking away with one hand in his pocket.
On Friday, Davenport said it was at that point Gardner did not know if Massey had a weapon and had to make a split-second decision whether to use the Taser.
"He did what he did based on those particular things," Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Scott T. Duncan said at the press conference.
After he is shocked, Massey is seen in the video falling backward onto the pavement and can be heard screaming. He is given a second zap. Massey's wife then comes out of the SUV screaming and is ordered back inside the vehicle by Gardner. '
'Ma'am, do exactly as I say or you're going to jail, too,'' the trooper says.
A short time later, an unidentified officer strolls up on scene and Gardner tells him that Massey "took a ride with the Taser."
"That comment was inappropriate," Davenport said Friday.
Massey was later taken to Uintah Basin Medical Center in Roosevelt.
Because of this incident, the UHP is reviewing its Taser and use-of-force policy.
"The trooper is being held accountable as are we," Duncan said.
Davenport said Gardner was issued a Taser in September 2005, but never had used it until the incident involving Massey. In his 14 years with the UHP, Gardner has had complaints leveled against him, "but most were unfounded or not sustained," Davenport said. He declined to talk about specific instances.
Massey is scheduled to stand trial over the speeding ticket Jan. 14 in Uintah County Justice Court.
He did not return several calls asking for comment about the case.
jbergreen@sltrib.com
[Note: The following video was not included in the above article, and was insterted into this post at my discretion]
Utah Highway Patrol Camera, Shows Jared Massey Being Tasered
The officer's conduct has been called into question after a videotape of the incident was posted on YouTube.
The video, taken from a Utah Highway Patrol dashboard camera, shows Trooper John Gardner using a Taser on Jared Massey during a traffic stop on State Road 40 in Uintah County on Sept. 14.2007 In the nearly 10-minute video, Gardner is seen pulling Massey over for speeding. When Massey refuses to sign the citation, Gardner asks him to exit the vehicle, and things quickly escalate as the motorist points toward the speed limit sign.
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