Naked 80-year-old woman 'raising cane' gets tased, arrested

By: Barry Leibowitz
Topics: Daily Blotter

CBS/AP

(CBS) DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. - Ready for those lazy, crazy, tasey days of summer?

Police in Dorchester County, S.C., used a Taser on a naked 80-year-old woman after she allegedly tried to attack police with her walking stick.

Yup, that's what we meant by raising cane.

CBS Charlotte reports that when police answered a complaint of someone making loud noises in the area, they were met by an elderly woman wearing no clothes on her porch, reportedly hitting the steps of with her cane.

According to police, the woman, who spoke "confusingly," began to swing the cane when officers tried to take it away from her. When persuasive words failed to work, another officer used his Taser on the elderly woman's back, CBS Charlotte reported. She was immediately transported to a nearby medical facility for treatment.

When police investigated the area, they discovered that the woman, a former tenant, had broken three windows at the property.

No charges were filed against the 80-year-old naked 'cane raiser' despite $250 worth of property damage.

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by dstiebs1 June 18, 2012 6:52 PM EDT: It's hard to believe that the cop was feeling that threatened to use a taser on her. That cop should be Arrested for abusing a person over the age of 65. Thats a felony.; Reply to this comment


by enlightenu June 18, 2012 6:49 PM EDT: Cops are ****; Reply to this comment

by wizardlady June 18, 2012 8:02 AM EDT

Please, say WHY that 80 yr old woman was naked! Had she been forced out of her home onto the streets? Or, did she not have any AC and was trying to get cool? Was she a practicing nudist? Or, had she just had a brain melt down and gone stark raving mad?

Her behavior may have been unorthodox, even illegal perhaps, BUT, no one can justify the actions taken by the 'men in uniform' who are supposed to PROTECT AND SERVE. Every PO who carries a taser should personally experience what it is like before doing it to someone else....without question,this would reduce overuse of these weapons.

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by Mike_in_USA June 18, 2012 7:36 PM EDT: Please understand--the police are there to 'protect and serve' the law. People are collateral damage.

by centralcacoast June 17, 2012 4:42 PM EDT

Clearly, none of you are law enforcement. Did any of you see this happen? Do you always believe the snippet in the paper? Of course, the paper would only print the fact, right? Get a grip and hear all the facts before you jump to conclusions.

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by skeezix06 June 17, 2012 6:32 PM EDT: Fact: 80 years old with the muscle tone of an 80 year old female
Fact: She has a cane, not for defense but for walking.

The report uses the terms "police" and "they" meaning more than one policeman vs one confused, 80 year old woman who needed to use a cane to get around... Why do you think the police decided not to press charges against this "dangerous and vicious" 80 year old woman, hmmm?


by audemus June 18, 2012 6:58 PM EDT: skeezix....and as we all know, elderly people have never been known to kill anyone, right ?


by Mike_in_USA June 17, 2012 12:47 PM EDT: I agree, two cops against an 80 yr. old with a cane and they tased her?
However, they have so many regs and procedures to follow, and a lawyer standing by to sue. for example; There is always police brutality if they would have actually touched her, or some sort of sexual assault. Then there are the protesters and riots to think about. So, to keep lawyers, jufges and civil suits at bay, they followed the procedures to the letter.; Reply to this comment


by nolapearl June 16, 2012 10:09 PM EDT: Hope the citizens of this county demand the firing of this incompetent cop.; Reply to this comment

by NaturalGirl June 16, 2012 3:25 PM EDT

Blankets, people, blankets. For crying out loud, learn to use blankets to gather (unarmed) unruly citizens. Gently, too. It's possible. As for those armed with weapon drawn (the ONLY time a taser should be considered) . . . why not have those not in the line of fire sort of lasso (?) the feet or arms with a rope or long net that can be cast out and then will cover the person? Those in the line of fire would just try to duck out of line of attach but a big butterfly net is not all that far fetched.

But, backing up, what about TALKING do those who are agitated and pose no thread? Don't add fuel to the fire. If you don't know how to settle everyone (including officers) down properly with dialogue, better learn. Now.

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by rwsmith29456 June 16, 2012 4:22 PM EDT: I think your idea of the police carrying a net for cases like this is a really good one.


by skeezix06 June 16, 2012 5:29 PM EDT: She had a cane so she probably wasn't very steady on her feet. She could have hit her head on something.


by audemus June 16, 2012 3:06 PM EDT: Sounds like Granny got into her rheumatizz medicine again....; Reply to this comment


by Maurice_Clemmons June 16, 2012 1:37 PM EDT: If this had been a man they would've just shot him dead or beat him to death with their steel clubs like they did Kelly Thomas in Fullerton, California. To the women, be careful when you're pulled over by one of these people. If you think that's just paranoid talk do a search for Anthony Nicholas Orban Westminster California, Victoria Murname Las Vegas Nevada, Michael Pena New York, Hope Steffey of Stark County Ohio, and on and on and on. There's not enough room to list them all here.; Reply to this comment


by omnibus66 June 16, 2012 8:32 AM EDT: A taser is a potentially deadly weapon, especially when used on a person with a high probability of cardiac irregularities. Where was the justification for deadly force? This cop should be removed immediately. No doubt he could then relocate to Texas a find another law enforcement job immediately.; Reply to this comment