Phillies Fan Tasered for Running on Field - Excessive Force?

Bob Clayton · #1 05-04-2010, 11:39 AM

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...tnerId=rss_phi

Now, I'm in no way stating that running onto the field at any sporting event is an intelligent thing to do, but did the police really need to taser the kid? I am also not against the police by any stretch of the imagination, I want to be a cop. So I'm not starting this thread trying to bash them. It's a legitimate question.

jp58 · #2 05-04-2010, 11:40 AM

No because he was a Phillies fan...

Bob Clayton · #3 05-04-2010, 11:42 AM

Well, great. Now if someone that could contribute to the thread would share their opinion, that'd be awesome.

PSPookie · #4 05-04-2010, 11:43 AM

Well, honestly, who wants to tackle a naked guy? I can see this factor weighing into the taser decision.

Lurker79 · #5 05-04-2010, 11:44 AM

"Red Phillies T-shirt and khaki shorts -- jumped over a wall in right field, eluded two security officers in the outfield and was eventually tased, bringing him to the ground immediately."

LMAO!

Bob Clayton · #6 05-04-2010, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSPookie

Well, honestly, who wants to tackle a naked guy? I can see this factor weighing into the taser decision.

If you read the article, he wasn't naked.

Classic case of posting before reading.

Bassman316 · #7 05-04-2010, 11:47 AM

I definitely think it's excessive force! I mean, come on... what, TWO cops can't tackle ONE teenage fan that hopped the wall? Give me a break! Tackle him? Yes. Stick him in the side with a taser gun? Come on. I've heard several times that tasers cause a lot of pain. IMHO, the use of tasers in situations where it isn't absolutely necessary has gone up.

Go Phillies, BTW.

PSPookie · #8 05-04-2010, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Clayton

If you read the article, he wasn't naked.

In that case, the tasing may have been excessive. Also, if you're not naked what's the point of running on the field?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Clayton

Classic case of posting before reading.

Meh, everyone slips up on occasion. You can't expect me to read every article you goofballs post

Jonyak · #9 05-04-2010, 11:50 AM

excessive force IMO. Seems to happen alot lately.

Demon_Hunter · #10 05-04-2010, 11:53 AM

Stupid kid shouldn't have jumped the fence. He got what he deserved. What would have happened had he started running towards a player to attack them or what not?
Cop was totally justified.

SonicBlueJoe · #11 05-04-2010, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Clayton

Well, great. Now if someone that could contribute to the thread would share their opinion, that'd be awesome.

You wanted intelligent opinions? In TB OT? What are you, crazy?

My first impression when I saw the video was excessive force. Kid looked to be pretty harmless. But considering what that father/son duo did to Tom Gamboa (KC Coach) and the attack on the umpire not too long after that (both at US Cellular Field, home of the White Sox), I can't fault a policy that includes tasering or that police officer's choice last night. Just another sad commentary on what our society has come to.

cassanova · #12 05-04-2010, 12:10 PM

I'm failing to see how the multitude of security at these events could not take down 1 person without having to resort to using a taser. IMO this is excessive force and the officer(s) in question should be fired and prosecuted.

cassanova · #13 05-04-2010, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demon_Hunter

Stupid kid shouldn't have jumped the fence. He got what he deserved. What would have happened had he started running towards a player to attack them or what not?
Cop was totally justified.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SonicBlueJoe

My first impression when I saw the video was excessive force. Kid looked to be pretty harmless. But considering what that father/son duo did to Tom Gamboa (KC Coach) and the attack on the umpire not too long after that (both at US Cellular Field, home of the White Sox), I can't fault a policy that includes tasering or that police officer's choice last night. Just another sad commentary on what our society has come to.

Unfortunately, you can't base the use of force on "what if's" As far as I know from my days in law enforcement, the threat has to be there to warrant the escalation in force. There was also no mention of the kid trying to attack anyone, (if he did I'm sure the media would've jumped all over it) hence making this use of force unreasonable IMO.

i_got_a_mohawk · #14 05-04-2010, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassman316

I definitely think it's excessive force! I mean, come on... what, TWO cops can't tackle ONE teenage fan that hopped the wall? Give me a break! Tackle him? Yes. Stick him in the side with a taser gun? Come on. I've heard several times that tasers cause a lot of pain. IMHO, the use of tasers in situations where it isn't absolutely necessary has gone up.

Go Phillies, BTW.

Hey, tax cuts. This way only one officer needed to get involved.

I find this excessive yet hilarious.

DeaconK · #15 05-04-2010, 12:23 PM

They warn you not to get onto the field before the game starts.

Dumbass steps onto the field and they have the tools to stop him without risking injury to themselves, I'm not seeing a problem.

jp58 · #16 05-04-2010, 12:35 PM

You can never be sure if he is going to attack players, coaches, or umpires. Players and referees/umpires have been attacked by crazed fans before. Musicians have been injured and killed by people. You can't take chances when it comes to things like that.

And as for my comment about him being a Phillies fan, Flyers, Eagles, and Phillies fans have all sent "death threats" to players, and are notorious for being homers and rude. I'm not trying to stereotype as other fans (Yankees have had swat come on the field several times) can be just as bad, but it was meant to be funny.

stinger12345 · #17 05-04-2010, 12:43 PM

I would agree that it was using excessive force. But it'd be interesting to see how many more streakers there are for the rest of the season in Philly, and compare that to the same relative time period in recent years. I wouldn't be surprised if the number is drastically lower. If one bad incident is a deterrent for most people, maybe it's not the worst thing in the world. Now I don't necessarily believe this, I'm just playing devil's advocate here

Bassman316 · #18 05-04-2010, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jp58

And as for my comment about him being a Phillies fan, Flyers, Eagles, and Phillies fans have all sent "death threats" to players, and are notorious for being homers and rude.

Hey, man... that's a rep we've earned. After all, we did pelt Sana Claus with snowballs!

fenderbassman55 · #19 05-04-2010, 12:54 PM

I was listening to the game and hear them say a 'fan' was running on the field. He committed criminal trespass and interrupted an MLB Nationally televised game. The perp knew what he was doing and planned on this disruption. He was told to stop and continued to flee and cause havoc. What IF he had a gun, bomb, knife, whatever. You have 41,000 fans to keep safe as well as million dollar athletes, umps and staff. He certainly deserved to be tased or any other method short of shooting him to be subdued.

fenderbassman55 · #20 05-04-2010, 12:55 PM

Let's see if Monica Seles (sp?) chimes in...