Charges Against Tasered Woman Dropped
Ohio Woman Was Cuffed, Hit With Stun Gun Repeatedly; Officer Under Investigation
-
A police car dashboard video recorded Heidi Gill being repeatedly tasered by officer Richard Kovach. While he faces an investigation into his conduct, charges against Gill have been dropped. (WKBN)
-
Play CBS Video Video Is Taser Torture? Hannah Storm speaks with Larry Cox from Amnesty International about the U.N.'s move to categorize law enforcement's use of the Taser as a form of torture.
-
Video U.N. Compares Taser To Torture The U.N. has entered the debate over the Taser, saying its use can qualify as a form of torture, after more reported incidents resulting in death. Joie Chen reports
-
Video Taser Victim Speaks Heidi Gill, a single mother from Ohio, sits down with Hannah Storm to discuss being Tasered by police in a dispute outside a bar in a video-taped incident she and her lawyer say was brutality.
-
Section Strange News Weird events, odd people and more peculiar happenings.
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.
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More From U.S.
The secrets of tennis legend 
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- next
See all 89 Comments[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).
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.
[Posted by zootallures2 at 10:32 PM : Jan 03, 2008]
most of your posts are generally ridiculous ... but this one is right on point!
[Posted by rohink at 07:17 PM : Jan 03, 2008]
she is ... and you just ignored 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.
[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.
[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.
www.poconocommunitynews.com
http://www.taser.com/research/statistics/Documents/Columbus%20TASER%20Exec%20Summary.pdf
You can also notice how many complaints of excessive force were denied. 25% and 23% of complaints.
Posted by kjejj at 12:08 AM : Jan 04, 2008
Bravo. And the phrasing made me laugh. I should quit perusing the news while I''m ahead.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- next
See all 89 Comments