Police use Taser on man at eatery

Rocky Mountain News | February 28, 2005

Officers used a Taser stun gun to subdue the man, who allegedly refused to show proof that he had paid to be eating food in the restaurant. Aurora police spokesman Larry Martinez said a struggle broke out after police asked the man to step outside the business to resolve the matter.

Police did not release the man's name.

Police say using Taser on cat appropriate

UPI | February 28, 2005

GILLESPIE, Ill., -- Police in Gillespie, Ill., say that after failing to catch an injured cat with a harness pole, they used a Taser gun on the animal.

Gillespie Police Chief Rick Hearn said his officers' response was appropriate given the circumstances, reported the River Bend (Ill.) Telegraph Monday.

Officers were called after it was reported two cats were fighting in a garage. One cat, which had lost an eye and was badly mangled, escaped to the garage's rafters and police called animal control officer Jessica Spangler.

The newspaper said the officers tried to net the cat, but when that failed they used Taser gun on the injured animal.

Once the cat was brought down, Spangler told the officers the cat was severely injured and ordered them to shoot it. They did.

However, one resident was appalled by the action and that the animal control officer ordered the cat shot, rather than transported to a veterinarian for either medical treatment or to be humanely euthanatized.

That citizen wrote the Telegraph, "I would hope that if my cat or dogs ever got out, that animal control and Gillespie's officers would not kill it inhumanely."

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