Charges Against Tasered Woman Dropped

(CBS/AP)  Charges were dismissed today against a northeast Ohio woman who was handcuffed and tasered by a patrolman whose actions were recorded by police dashboard video.

The Warren officer who arrested 38-year-old Heidi Gill outside a bar has been fired for lying to investigators in an unrelated traffic stop.

Richard Kovach had refused to testify against the tasered woman on the advice of his attorney. The FBI is currently investigating the matter, and Kovach himself may face federal charges.

A video made from a cruiser shows Kovach using a Taser on the woman as she screams and tries to kick out a rear window of the patrol car.

The officer got a two-month suspension in the stun gun case.

Tracy Timko Rose, the Warren Assistant City Prosecutor, said the city was prepared to go forward with charges against Gill but that Kovach's unavailability to testify forced them to drop the case.

"Had he been here we would have pursued the matter," she told CBS Affiliate WKBN "We believe there was probable cause. We believe should he testify the charges would be substantiated. But without his testimony we cannot prove the charges against her."

Gill's attorney, Mark Hanni, believes Kovach will face federal charges.

"The torture he put Miss Gill through is just totally unexcuseable and cannot be tolerated in the United States of America," Hanni told WKBN.

Gill may not be off the hook for good; charges could be reinstated if Kovach is cleared in the investigation.

[bobnjersey]

[Too bad she lived to get off scot free! It''''s a free country allright -- for your criminals! America is now a 3rd world laughingstock! Laff laff!]
[Posted by achtung- at 03:35 PM : Jan 04, 2008]

she''s not scot free ... she currently has residual effects from the four minutes of electrocution that she received. physical effects that may never go away ... and are hardly appropriate for a bouncer incident in a bar.

it is a free country alright ... where the government ''freely'' spies on it''s citizens ... where a 300 lb law enforcement official ''freely'' uses a taser device to subdue a drunk 100 lb woman ... where the president ''freely'' inserts signing statements into bills that he doesn''t want to apply to him ... and where the officials in the highest seats of power are ''free'' to forget whether they had any part in controversial policy descisions(gonzalez).

[dylanxxv]

Just say "NO zebras"...

[jennmarie620]

I''m not quite understanding why any charges against this woman were dropped. There was at least enough evidence on the tape to show that she had, at least at one point, resisted arrest. That''s one charge that should stick with or without the police officer''s testimony against her.

That being said, I do NOT agree with the force this police officer used against her. To a certain extent, there is understanding to a police officer using force when arresting someone who is fighting against them - but this was undeniable excessive force. He should lose his job for his actions.

But it still doesn''t excuse her actions.

[emma915]

If this woman had just been handcuffed, put in the back of the cruiser and then started kicking out windows, I''d agree she needed some attention. BUT, I do not agree with what this police officer did to her BEFORE she was put in the car! He just kept tasering her; she hit her head on the bumper of the car when she fell, he tasered her over and over and used his foot to casually kick her down. If she did something to get arrested in the bar, that''s one thing. But the treatment she received that I saw on t.v. was just too much. He wasn''t being attacked, she was!

[Krazcarl]

nasty pig that is all there is to it..

[bobnjersey]

[The US public... well it was fun being a total ignorant ********, till I got tasered by an even bigger one ... It was fun putting in those cameras to watch my employees, neighbors, and customers, till the goverment put one in my cable box, computer, and cell phone.]
[Posted by zootallures2 at 10:32 PM : Jan 03, 2008]

most of your posts are generally ridiculous ... but this one is right on point!

[bobnjersey]

[Being married to a police officer for 7 years, you should be a bit more informed.]
[Posted by rohink at 07:17 PM : Jan 03, 2008]

she is ... and you just ignored it!

[bobnjersey]

[Anyway, i was attempting to stay on point with the post and ask how is police brutality bush''''s fault? I dont get it. ]
[Posted by krenz4 at 06:35 PM : Jan 03, 2008]

a blatant disregard for the rule of law and the core tenants of the constitution are where you should start. for one that has sworn to uphold these it''s a bit disingenuous to ignore all that you don''t like ... create signing statements that provide you an ''out'' for what you don''t agree with ... and anything else just do secretly ... and then point the finger at those how expose your underhanded behaviour when it''s leaked.

he''s setting a great example for everyone to follow ... he who deceives and undermines the best wins!

[How is the tiger eating the man at the zoo his fault? How is the immigration issue his fault? How is Stacy Petersons disappearance his fault? how is the fact that muslims decide to kill other muslims by the millions, by blowing themselves up his fault? According to people in these forums, ALL these are directly his fault. ]

if he want to take credit for everything that happens while he sits in ''the seat'' ... then maybe taking responsibility is the flip side of that. they''re both absurd ... like the system it all comes from.

[bobnjersey]

[The cop has a hard and very dangerous job. Think about it: when a cop stops you, he knows nothing about you. He doesn''''t know if you have a weapon, and he doesn''''t know if you intend to kill him.]
[Posted by robertkjjj at 05:53 PM : Jan 03, 2008]

so what''s he doing w/ that computer in the passenger seat ... playing video games? he knows more than he should know about you when he pulls you over ... and it''s all at a push of a button.

what''s the statistics on the numbers of traffic stops that turn violent? is this 50% ... or maybe 5% ... or is it 0.05%?

should everyone who doesn''t stop completely at the red light while making a right turn be assumed to be a violent criminal laying in wait to gun down a cop?

the answer is yes if you live in a police state.

[bobnjersey]

[... A letter to the right agency will ensure a cleaner hospital and accountability to patient care in a little town in the middle of Oklahoma if they want to keep their certifications ... If you just want to take it up the tail pipe that is your choice, I on the other hand will be standing upright. ]
[Posted by kjejj at 12:08 AM : Jan 04, 2008]

kudos to you ... history tells a consistent story of those held down who remain held down when they keep their mouths shut ... and only when one speaks out does anything change.