Tasered Ohio Woman Describes Agony

Police Video Shows Her Being Stunned Even After She Was Handcuffed, In Back Of Cruiser

(CBS/AP)  "Terrified. Crawling for my life. I really did not think I was going to make it," Heidi Gill said on CBS News' The Early Show, referring to being Tasered by a police officer earlier this month.

Ohio police are investigating an officer's use of a stun gun on the handcuffed woman, who fell to the pavement and was knocked unconscious when the officer shocked her.

Video from Patrolman Richard Kovach's cruiser shows him jolting the screaming woman with a Taser electronic device both before and after she was handcuffed.

"The pain just wouldn't stop, it was so much, so much. I just didn't think it was going to stop ever," Gill, 38, told The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm Tuesday.

She was arrested Sept. 2 on charges of falsification, assault, resisting arrest, criminal damaging and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, officials said. She has pleaded not guilty. A hearing is set for Oct. 25 in Warren Municipal Court.

"There's 32 burn circles on my pants alone," Gill said.

"It's just a traumatic thing that I relive every day. At night, I see it. It's just never-ending," Gill said on The Early Show. "The worst thing is the impaired vision. I see two of you right now, sometimes three."

It's also affecting the single mother's ability to take care of her 4-year-old son.

"I can't explain to him why I can't drive. I can't pick him up. I can't play ball with him because I can't see the ball coming towards me. I can't play chase because I get dizzy," Gill said. "I don't know how to deal with what I'm feeling."

Gill had been ordered out of a bar.

"We were at a wedding so we did have some drinks. We went to the bar afterwards with a lot of people from the wedding. We did have drinks and we were dancing, having a really good time," Gill recalled. "The altercation started, you know, some words were exchanged and they asked me to leave and I was fine with that.

"I was leaving the bar, was walking out" when she first encountered Kovach. She kept heading to the parking lot.

A friend had said he would drive her home, and she should wait in his car. She may have gotten into the wrong car.

"I'm just sitting there relaxing, waiting for my ride home and the door swung open, 'Get out of the car.' I said no. I was scared at how abrupt it was," Gill said.

"And then the next thing I know I was feeling this electrocution. I couldn't move let alone get out of the car but I was trying," she said.

Kovach's report said he made several attempts to use the Taser on Gill, but it misfired repeatedly. Once inside the cruiser, his report said, she kicked at a rear window and tried to climb into the front seat, ignoring his commands to stop, the police report said.

"I'm locked in the back of a car of someone that just abused me," Gill said Tuesday, admitting that she was kicking at the police car window.

"I deployed a second Taser cartridge into her and the violent turbulent action stopped immediately," the report said. "I then requested a car with a cage for transport."

She was again stunned during an attempted transfer to the second car. She fell and was knocked unconscious, and an ambulance took her to a local hospital, the report said.

But attorney Mark Hanni says the videotape of the incident tells a different story.

"He Tases her in the back seat of the vehicle after she already calmed down. She had quit kicking at that point and was sitting upright and he started Tasing her," Hanni told Storm. Plus, "He kicked her while she was on the ground. This is just totally unacceptable behavior on the part of anyone, let alone a policeman."

Taser stun guns fire electrically charged darts that carry 50,000 volts for several seconds, temporarily immobilizing their targets. According to Taser International Inc., about 11,000 U.S. law enforcement agencies use Taser technology.

Taser use by police is getting national attention, after video surfaced on the Internet of police shocking a university student in Florida who persistently questioned Sen. John Kerry during a forum and refused to yield the microphone to others. University of Florida President Bernie Machen said the use of the Taser was "regretful." He requested a state probe of campus police actions and placed two officers on leave.

California sheriff's officials are defending their use of a Taser stun gun to subdue an autistic teenager who left a social services center where he was being treated.

"It was necessary," sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino said in defense of the use of a Taser stun gun to subdue 15-year-old Taylor Karras.

He said the teen was running in and out of traffic and is lucky to be alive.

"If that were your son, would you want him Tased or hit by a car?" Amormino asked.

But his parents said they believed deputies overreacted.

In Warren, Ohio, Officer Kovach is on paid administrative leave, and the city of Warren is conducting an investigation. Attorney Hanni is calling for Department of Justice and Ohio attorney general investigations

"I don't want anyone else to ever go through this again," Gill said Tuesday on The Early Show.

[thatsjarrod]

Praise be for Danie77! I totally see where i''m wrong about this case now, obviously i didnt get to see the part of the video that shows Mrs. Gill complying with the officer''s directions. Especially the part where the cop say''s "sit in the back of my car and try to kick out the windows!" I''m curious though, how exactly did your brave armchair police work determine that Mrs. Gill posed no threat to anyone at the time the video was taken? And when can are you free to loan out your Sherlock Holmesian powers of deduction to law enforcement across the nation? Just think! The next time they have someone not obeying an officer''s direction and resisting arrest you could be there to determine exactly the perfect action to take everytime in every situation with your almost hindsightly knowledge as to whether or not the person who is trying to hide in a car that they got into "mistakenly" ( i know, happens to me all the time!) I can see it now! (officer) "should we tase her oh wise and mighty Danie77?" (Danie77) hmmm my infinite wisdom indicates this is a white woman that weighs 130-pounds." And as such clearly she couldnt possibly be concealing a knife, gun, or weapon of any kind. No drunken 130-pound white woman has ever harmed anyone EVER! Youve inspired my black a$$ to run out and start plunderin and pillagin ... happy days are here again! :)

[danie77]

believe that what happened to Heidi Gill was absolutely uncalled for. Yes she may have been drunk, and/or caused the altercation in the bar, but she was following the orders of the policeman and leaving the bar. So she may have gotten in the wrong car, that didn''''t give the officer a reason to taser her like he did. She was unarmed and harmless - for Petes sake she was drunk, what more did he want...she was doing as he said. He could have asked her why she was in the car. He surprised her by swinging the door open so quickly, she didn''''t expect anyone to follow her. I probably would have reacted the same way had I not looked first to see who it was. This action by the police officer continually tasering her was like he was hunting her down. How can you get up off the ground when you''''ve had several jolts of electricity going through your body?? Oh and nothing like kicking her down to make it worse. What kind of officers are we training these days? That was just plain brutality and unnecessary force. But knowing and seeing how some Yo-Oh officers have been in the past, it doesn''''t surprise me that these actions have crossed over to Warren Oh. That officer should have his job taken away from him and no longer be aloud to be on any PD force statewide. I feel for Heidi and her son. Justice will prevail.


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Posted by eb25565

Agree to that also

[danie77]

sbbm. I respect your perspective and right to an opinion, like everyone else. I''''ll even go so far as to agree with you that this woman''''s conduct was way out in left field and unacceptable. Seeing how she was (I''''m guessing here) very intoxicated, the officer should have, realizing that, been even more concerned with her personal safety. It is evident from the video that there was plenty of help at the scene to assist the officer. If any of that help were volunteers, EMS, fire, etc., then why weren''''t they assisting the officer? The officer''''s code is "To Protect and to Serve". In this case, the officer did neither, not to mention the fact that this woman, in her drunken state, did not pose any serious safety threat to anyone but herself. Again, the officer should have been more concerned with her safety than with his apparent interest in using his taser to ''''control'''' the situation... I still believe he used excessive force and actually endangered this woman''''s safety more than if he would have simply waited for backup and restrained her ''''physically''''... Every incident like this, even if it is 1 in 10,000, erodes the trust that the public has in law enforcement as an institution, and erases all the good that officers accomplish in the other 99.9% of the situations. Unfortunate, but true. As soon as we condone (and accept) this kind of behavior from law enforcement, our civil liberties will be at risk of being slowly taken away from us as citizens.

I agree

[danie77]

I don''''t have a problem with a taser gun being used to incapacitate someone who is resisting police or who is dangerous to other people. HOWEVER, that being said, I think there should be two conditions for the use of these non-lethal devices.

1. Before being allowed to carry any incapacitating device, the officer should have to experience at least one dose from the device. This may give them an understanding of why they need to use good judgment and break out these devices only in extreme circumstances.

2. If found guilty of abusing the device, the officer should have to suffer the same abuse he or she dished out. Fair''''s fair. This will make officers think twice before using one of these devices multiple times on a person. "Am I going too far?"

Understand: I am 100% behind the officers who put their lives on the line every time they go on duty. I understand it takes a certain personality and a certain amount of ''''kick-***'''' attitude to do the job. I respect and appreciate the job they do. But I''''m also realistic enough to know there are officers that are just a little TOO ''''Rambo'''' about their jobs.

From what I saw in the video, it didn''''t look like the lady deserved what she got, but I wasn''''t there and don''''t know everything that went on. I WILL say I don''''t think she needed to be tasered when she was in the back of the car or trying to crawl away from the tasering officer. I''''d have tried to get away from that thing myself. biglak
This is what I was agreeing with.

[danie77]

biglak, well said.

[danie77]

reginaelieze, I understand what you are saying. I still feel some authorities go overboard. Even other authorities say the tazers are abused. They still have protocols to follow. People can go to far. He is not the first to abuse his athority, and sadly won''t be the last. I respect the cops who are honest, and follow protocol regardless.

[danie77]

rucc1 thank you for all your comments. I know not all cops are bad. What this officer did was wrong. What has happened to society that people think this is justified. He is not the only one who has abused the use of those tazers. It was over kill folks. I don''t care what she did no human being deserves that! If it had been my bar or car, even if I had called the cops. The momment I saw that I would have jumped in and said I am dropping the charges and reported the cop instead.

[more4mollie]

What a wonderful comment (deputy1630) STICK Up for the TEAM!

[more4mollie]

I think Its been more then two people....UMMMMM its been ALOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I''m sure everyone believes in using the tazer guns of course its much safer, but use the Dang things right!

[thatsjarrod]

I''ts funny to me that in the last week we''ve seen 2 white people getting tased on You-Tube, and the whole world freaks out! Yet i guarantee if it was a black guy resisting arrest in the same manner in which she was throughout the tape you''d think he got exactly what he deserved. Where do you folks get the notion that when a cop tells you to do something, it''s optional? For example, (officer)"PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR!" (gill) "nah i''m too busy hiding out drunk in some strangers car." There must have been 100-people in the bar that night, how come 99-of them made it home without taser burns? She sits on TV like little Miss Innocent, GIMME A FRIGGIN BREAK!! And i love how she keeps playing up the 38-year-old mother angle! I must have missed the memo but is motherhood currently defined as being a drunken idiot who gets kicked out of a bar because of her loud mouth, then ends up in the back of a police cruiser trying to kick out the windows?! Wow, when are the mom of the year nominations due out? Somebody get me a ballot! I agree with kwark1''s comment. I too am sick of hearing people whine about taser''s. Let''s get back to using bullets! Next time, slow down on the Jack Daniel''s there honey, save that cash to remove the tramp stamp you undoubtedly have placed strategically your lower back.

[thatsjarrod]

I''ts funny to me that in the last week we''ve seen 2 white people getting tased on You-Tube, and the whole world freaks out! Yet i guarantee if it was a black guy resisting arrest in the same manner in which she was throughout the tape you''d think he got exactly what he deserved. Where do you folks get the notion that when a cop tells you to do something, it''s optional? For example, (officer)"PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR!" (gill) "nah i''m too busy hiding out drunk in some strangers car." There must have been 100-people in the bar that night, how come 99-of them made it home without taser burns? She sits on TV like little Miss Innocent, GIMME A FRIGGIN BREAK!! And i love how she keeps playing up the 38-year-old mother angle! I must have missed the memo but is motherhood currently defined as being a drunken idiot who gets kicked out of a bar because of her loud mouth, then ends up in the back of a police cruiser trying to kick out the windows?! Wow, when are the mom of the year nominations due out? Somebody get me a ballot! I agree with kwark1''s comment. I too am sick of hearing people whine about taser''s. Let''s get back to using bullets! Next time, slow down on the Jack Daniel''s there honey, save that cash to remove the tramp stamp you undoubtedly have placed strategically your lower back.

[easy610]

Puuhlez! I guess if you don''t listen, you get tasered. These "poor people" getting tasered CONTINUE to no obey commands. We have a police force for a reason. If you are given a command, you should FOLLOW it. Its not like he said "strip now!" or "give me your wallet!"

Time and time again people want to make excuses or apologize for BAD BEHAVIOR.

When interacting with the police let me give you a clue...YOU ARE NOT IN CONTROL, THEY ARE. And as a society we give them that right and power. If you don''t like it, leave or work politicall to get police powers suspended. Otherwise QUIT WHINING!!

Oh and for the record I ahev been tasered. It ain''t that bad. It sucks for a few seconds, but when its over its like it never happened. Not that you want to repeat it, but it isn''t this catastrophic event...GOD! This country is becoming such a buynch of whinny victims..."oh I''m a victim give me money...Oh I''m a victim thos emean police told me to move and I didn''t want to...."

Whew! OK, I''m better now....are you?

[klingon69]

But republican7, again, not defending, but how was he to know she wasn''''t armed when she refused to get out of the car to begin with - to reiterate, I''''m not trying to get into a pi$$ing contest with anyone, just posing it from both pov, in everyday situations of officer vs assailant
Posted by sbbm at 05:59 PM : Sep 25, 2007

Regardless of whether he thought she might be armed, that was in no way a reason for him to become so abusive toward her. I know from personal experience that dsome cops are bullies, they get off on their power and will either abuse it, or get pretty *** close to the limit. If he didn''t have a taser, does that mean he would''ve beaten her unconcious with his baton, or just shot her?
I do agree with another poster about a govt civil rights/grievences committee to look into allegations against police/sheriff/law enforcement aencies across the US. Who knows how many persons have been locked up after admitting something they didn''t do to stop the cops from berating them and torturing them. If you don''t believe it happens, you re fooling yourself.

[more4mollie]

Well i suggest you watch Inside Eidtion! It clearly shows another woman tazered by the same Officer. Thats sad that a four min. video was not enough for our society!!!!

[kwakr1]

Maybe tasing her was wrong. Probably he should have just shot her. Quicker and cleaner and she''ll learn that getting drunk and fighting after a wedding is inappropriate for middle-aged single mom.
Why do I suspect that Heidi isn''t the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree?

[michellem99-2009]

TASER GUN IS INHUMANE...Yer ever pepper mace a dog...I know someone that did that years ago..That dog was pissed and never forgot that person..That same thing happens with persons. I heard they get pissed..There are smart asre cops looking to bully persons just cos that power trip of a badge..They are out there. They abuse their police powers. Not all do..It is worse today..Yer never know what state of mind that cops are in..Some just are not playing with a full pack of cards..nice to yer face and then turn on yer. That gun they wear their going to use it co they got too power. I scared of them as a handicapped person as that taser would surely kill me. Officer safety..Yer mean Officer force their will on others. They abuse others and get a sexual thrill..Some abuse just co they can and cover it up. They are high and mighty cops..Oh yes.. The golden rule. Punks or some are with a badge.

[rucc1]

In response to mrmcvein''s comment on this incident. It appears to me from the beginning of the tape that the officer never even entertained the thought of using Pepper spray, Mace what have you. You haven''t been tased before probably never even been Maced before but let me tell you, the pepper sprays that they have out now, I promise you would have incapacitated this woman. That is if is deployed right. With respects to her being tased again in the back of the vehicle just for kicking the back door window, which by the way can be replaced with your tax dollars, this was totally uncalled for. I have had someone kick at my back window before when I was in law enforcement and the course of action for that is to take her out of the car and hog tie her... that means you run a strap from her ankles to her handcuffs while her hands are cuffed behind her back... people this could have been handle alot better than it was and I guess if you have never applied these types of restraints then you wouldn''t know...I mean you don''t see them tasing mentally ill patients in a hospital do you? Watch the outcome of this one. I promise you he was wrong.

[mrmcvein]

When I first saw the story, both my wife and I were in agreement about the issue. This lady NEVER seemed to lie down (during the first tasing) as ordered by the officer. I agree that the officer was excessive in that he continued tasing the woman even once she was in custody. However, as she was kicking at the back window, he did demand that she stop. I have never been tased and am not in any form of law enforcement, but do want to point out the following:

Just because a law officer is bigger and stronger than than the perpetrator does not mean that the smaller person cannot inflict painful blows. Also, it is the officer''s job to subdue the person with necessary force to prevent injury to both. I have seen people hit with pepper spray and even though they scream about what was done to them, they are still not incapacitated. I don''t think she needed to be tased as many times as she was, but I don''t disagree that tasing her initially was wrong either.

[reginaelieze]

to rucc1: My main problem was the way media can play up which ever side of the story they want too. That''s why I compared her partying to Britney''s. And just because you go to a wedding and go out with the wedding party, doesn''t mean it''s ok to get "tore up" drunk, and get into a bar fight. They keep portraying her as this pitiful little single mother. Why isn''t anyone addressing the fact that she got drunk because she chose too and got in a fight because she couldn''t restrain herself. And I do think the police officer was big enough to handle her physically or use pepper spray. But I truly believe it would have still been on the news because someone would have disagreed with that. Look, I know we''re human and we all make mistakes but we''ve got to stop excusing and pretending there''s only one side. Just because we''re made (by the media) to feel sorry for her does not mean she wasn''t wrong!

[more4mollie]

And there where so many people there watching are you guys blind