KC Man 'Humiliated' After Feds Taser Him in Mistaken ID Case

[rcrush]

http://www.fox4kc.com/wdaf-story-taser-mistake-marshals-041609,0,7163100.story


GRANDVIEW, MO - A metro man and father of four found himself caught up in a case of mistaken identity after he was yanked off a community center basketball court and tasered by U.S. Marshals.

Stuart Wright, 30, was playing basketball at the Grandview Community Center when U.S. Marshals, acting on a tip from an informant, surrounded him with guns drawn and hit him with a Taser.

"I just heard all this commotion and screaming, and as I turned I heard this gentleman screaming and he had a gun pointed at me," said Wright. "And as I put my hands up I guess he was screaming the gentleman's name who they were after, and I said my name is Stuart Wright, that's not my name and I heard pop,pop and I felt my body tense up, and I was on the ground."

Officials with the U.S. Marshals Office says that an informant told them that their suspect was at the community center playing basketball, wearing a jersey with the number 23 on the back and with braids in his hair. That description fit Wright, who happened to be given that particular shirt for the game.

"I honestly think it was poor planning and strategy, and I think somebody didn't do their homework," said Wright. "I think they were out of control."

Pip Dukes, who organizes the men's basketball league, says he was working the scoreboard when the U.S. Marshals entered the gym, telling him to stop the game.

"Those guys just bum rushed the gentleman, and it was maybe 8 of them and they had their guns out and where they approached him at it was a stand behind him full of kids," said Dukes. "I'm still disappointed because it was a stand full of kids."

The U.S. Marshals Office admitted that entering a crowded community center with guns drawn was not an ideal situation, but they said that the man they were looking for was armed and dangerous.

Officials with the agency said that they thought Wright, who works for the Wyandotte County Unified Government, was going to hit a deputy who had grabbed his arm. They say that's why he was tasered.

"It just humiliated me," said Wright, who says he hopes law enforcement will learn from the incident before they act in the future. "I was so embarrassed, honestly."



Hmmmm I'm not sure that HUMILIATED would be the word I would use.

[malaise]

1. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

no need to ask the man's race. Sue them.
Security peeps have gone stark fugging mad.

[Mist]

2. Sounds like a "pre-emptive" tasering. These things should be taken out of use. nt

[Echo In Light]

3. And so should the SHIT STAIN sadists who ENJOY their "authority"

[Warpy]

4. That's not humiliation. That's assault and battery

and the cop with the itchy taser finger needs to be charged.

[malaise]

7. Bingo n/t

[Hassin Bin Sober]

5. Give the cops a break.

What are the odds of two guys with the same "23" jersey?

[hlthe2b]

12. Pretty good when you rely on an informant who has every reason

to lie..... This was gross negligence.

[uppityperson]

13. Why taze him? Doesn't seem a life and death situation, why taze him?

[madinmaryland]

16. Considering that #23 (Michael Jordon's Number) is still the hottest

thing around. Quite likely, I would say.

[CreekDog]

21. #23 is Lebron James and Michael Jordan

probably about half the jerseys worn have #23 on them.

you genius you! :eyes:

[Hassin Bin Sober]

24. Guess I shoulda used the sarcasm tag. Sad state of affairs on DU.

:(

[CreekDog]

25. well i almost asked you because #23 is so obvious

:rofl:

[SidDithers]

27. Well, I got it...

:hi:

Sid

[TexasObserver]

6. More goons with badges, bereft of any sense of constitutional rights.

It's a major problem in our society today. Too many with badges and guns lack the sense or knowledge to carry a badge or a gun. They shoot first, and ask questions later. It's Bush's fault.

[Echo In Light]

8. There's been waaaay too many of these 'whoops, tasered,' incidents

And many of em come up short on the 'whoops'

[TexasObserver]

9. That's it. They tase as a matter of policy, with no consideration of consequences.

Everyone is a bad guy to them. Anyone who mentions their constitutional rights is really a bad guy, one who deserves to be tased, thrown down, beaten, cuffed, and charged with whatever charges the out of control officers can dream up.

Until we start imprisoning some of these bad cops, and culling the ranks of the worst offenders, we will continue to live in fear of the police. They're out of control.

[Javaman]

10. one would think that among these "agents" there would be someone

with a hint of common sense.

Such as, sending in one agent to case the joint and see if it actually is the guy.

But I guess, you know, real police work is for sissies.

[Raineyb]

11. Assaulted is the word I'd use.

I can only imagine the rather vague description that Mr. Wright "fit."

Regards

[dysfunctional press]

14. "armed and dangerous"?? on a basketball court?

i hope that the guy is able to sue those fucks.

[gratuitous]

19. Hey, you come down the lane, you better come ready

I don't let nobody dunk in my house!

Yeah, this is a major lawsuit and the good citizens will pay a hell of a lot of money for a bunch of trigger-happy yahoos with badges.

[dysfunctional press]

23. kinda like the running back who shot his way to a touchdown in the opening of 'the last boy-scout'-

but then, a football player's uniform is much more condusive to ccw.

[dkofos]

15. It could be worse.

He could have tazed him with his Glock, a la Oakland PD.

Personally, I'd sue the fuck out of them.

[Dappleganger]

17. The only way they 'learn' is by hitting them in the money basket.

Hard enough so their insurance soar through the roof and the town goes into a frenzy.

That's a real shame. Now those kids will hate the police even more--do we even need to wonder why?

[Brewman_Jax]

18. Playing basketball at the Grandview Community Center

not exactly armed and dangerous. :eyes:

A few huge settlement lawsuits may send the message to law enforcement to deal with these sadists with badges.

[Raineyb]

20. Maybe eventually they'll consider the money being paid out to be onerous.

Although it doesn't seem to bother them one whit so far. :shrug:

A black man with a #23 shirt. That's a real vague description. You'd think they'd learn to do a better job of describing.

Regards

[8 track mind]

22. sniff, sniff, sniff.....what's that smell????

I smell a LAWSUIT. I would sue the fucking hell out of those people!

[asdjrocky]

26. What crap.

I could spit and hit 20 guys in my home town wearing the number 23. I would almost bet you that our President has a jersey with the 23 on it somewhere. Hell, I even have one.

[SidDithers]

28. Obama being from Chicago...

I'd say a 23 jersey is a certainty.

Sid