Man Tased While Trying to Tell Deputies That Son Is Autistic

Cop Block – by Roy

Date of Interaction: 5-18-14
Police Employees Involved: Marion County Sheriff’s Department
Police Employee Contact Information: (352) 732-8181

On May 18, 2014, I received a call from my 22 year old autistic son. I immediately got in my truck and went to where my son was being ticketed. When I drove up on the right hand side of the road, adjacent to my son’s car, I did not leave my vehicle and I kept it running. The officer turned around and asked, “Can I help you?” I said, “I’m his father.”  The officer yelled at me to please leave the premises. I stated, “I’m his father, and just wanted to tell you he is autistic.” He turned around and said, “Leave or you’ll be arrested.”  

He started walking towards me and said, “You’re under arrest. I asked, “For what?” I kept saying over and over that all I wanted to do was tell the officer he’s autistic. Then he repeated, “You’re under arrest.” I was sure I hadn’t broken any laws.  This was when I said, “No, I’m not under arrest, I haven’t done anything.”

I was still sitting in my truck with the door closed when another officer drove up. The other officer opened my passenger door and proceeded to climb in and push me out. As I came out, I was standing in front of the officer, and he grabbed me and tried to throw me on the ground. When I didn’t fall down, he tazed me (and I have heart trouble). I went down on my knees, and both officers jumped on me and slammed me into the pavement. They handcuffed me laying on the ground and put the tazer to my lower spine and tazed me four times. I was put in the police car and taken to jail, from where I later posted bond.

http://www.copblock.org/62032/man-tased-while-trying-to-tell-deputies-that-son-is-autistic/