Charges Against Tasered Woman Dropped

Ohio Woman Was Cuffed, Hit With Stun Gun Repeatedly; Officer Under Investigation

(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.

[kjejj]

Could be you are scared and intimated Robert. I have a right to question authority figures, in fact I believe it is my duty. Never forget that Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely.

[sgtrds]

Some cops join the force because they think of it as a power trip. It''s the responsibility of the police to screen these hot shots out before they damage the reputation of the whole force. We had a problem with that for years on the LAPD, but after psychological testing was updated (and enforced) the LAPD''s reputation is slowly getting better. I support the cops more then most, but there is no denying that bad cops still slip through and need to be weeded out for the good of the public AND the good of the professional cops doing a great job.

[shanev137]

Most of these power-hungry hillbilly cops get a hard on from tasing unarmed people who pose no direct threat to them. They''re like pedophiles who can''t stop. The temptation to Tase is just too great for them.

I hope more and more of them get fired for torturing people.

[mythoughtsr]

robertkjjj hit the nail on the head. I''ve been stopped on a few occasions for minor moving violations and always say "yes/no sir/ma''am" and asked "May I get my license out of my wallet for you now?" instead of grabbing suddenly for my purse. I always listen to what they say/ask of me and they are polite to me as well. One time an officer even gave my children lollipops since they were scared and invited them to the station for their open house. Give respect and in almost every case you will get it back.

This maniac was trying to break out windows and would not listen or respond. Was tasering necessary? Maybe or maybe not, but she should have acted like a lady instead of an animal.

[lochlan-2009]

www.badcopnews.com - To see how big a problem criminal cops are in this country.

[toolmangler-2009]

power-hungry hillbilly cops
Posted by shanev137 at 03:38 PM : Jan 03, 2008



Big City Cops would never do that, right??????
sounds like an attitude problem to me. pople that have an attitude like that tend to label people they want to ridicule and that is their way of gaining ''power'' over somebody. If you ''put them down. that means you are up, right?, wrong it just means that you have tried to pull them down to your level.

[usayesterday]

Posted by Mythoughtsr at 03:42 PM : Jan 03, 2008
.........

You are absolutely right. There are too many people who feel they are above the law, or just suffer from severe narcissism.

Some respect and maturity is needed in this country! Of course, personal responsibility would prevent most of these incidents from happening in the first place.

But responsibility is also needed for the law enforcement officers as well. Clear guidelines should be implemented across the board for the use of the taser.

[lochlan-2009]

That said, police are an authority necessary fo the healthy function of society, and should be respected, as long as they don''t break the law.

[kiwi_chick]

I must admit, one time when I was much younger, much more arrogant, much more prone to smarting off at the mouth when I was drunk...I got froggy with a cop. He was trained enough, had sense enough and was MAN enough to realize I was a stupid drunk female and he cuffed me, put me in the back of the car and dragged me off to the pokey so I could sleep it off. He didn''t feel the overriding need to belittle me, verbally abuse me, hit me, club me or pull his gun on me. There are cops with brains. The cop in this case had little to no common sense and most certainly did not act within the scope of his training.

Don''t get me started on the prosecutor Tracy Timko...a female...with a little power...you know how those power hungry females are...pure hell on high heels.

[gheemaster38]

I agree with you Robert. While I am much younger(Sorry :) ) I have been stopped by the police as well. I before he comes to the car I will have my license insurance registration either on the dash or in the seat next to me spread out so he can observe my every move as I reach for the document and see waht I am reaching for. If it is night I turn the interior lights on. I have always been treated with respect from the law. Their job is dangerous enough without having to put up with unnecessary c r a p..

[usayesterday]

Some cops join the force because they think of it as a power trip. It''''s the responsibility of the police to screen these hot shots out before they damage the reputation of the whole force. We had a problem with that for years on the LAPD, but after psychological testing was updated (and enforced) the LAPD''''s reputation is slowly getting better. I support the cops more then most, but there is no denying that bad cops still slip through and need to be weeded out for the good of the public AND the good of the professional cops doing a great job.

Posted by SgtRDS at 03:38 PM : Jan 03, 2008
.............

That''s true Randal. The psych tests are crucial, and should always be updated and improved.

But sometimes, a perfectly good cop in the "rookie" stage can eventually grow a big head and become the bad cop that are sometimes shown on TV.

It''s like that coworkers who you think is the coolest person around, but then he/she gets promoted to a management position... and he/she then becomes the biggest piece of ****** on the planet!

[usayesterday]

It''''s like that coworkers who you think is the coolest person around, but then he/she gets promoted to a management position... and he/she then becomes the biggest piece of ****** on the planet!

Posted by USAyesterday at 04:01 PM : Jan 03, 2008
........

To sum up:

Some people can pass (psych) tests, but can''t handle positions of authority!

(is it just me, or does this story and these comments remind you of the scene from South Park where Eric Cartmen is a police officer.... "you will respect my authoritaaayy!")

[Krazcarl]

POLICE STATE we no longer have any freedom man tortures a woman and is mearly fired should have been beaten then strung up.

[stevex47]

Northeast ohio cops have other recent issues. Bobby Cutts Jr. Murdered his pregnant wife(alledgedly)...in front of his other young child this last summer. Then got an old girlfriend to help him dispose of the body.

[shanev137]

ToolMangler - I don''t get a hard on from physically torturing people who pose no physical threat to me....so yes, I am better than them.

Most of these cases where cops are torturing people with their tasers seem to happen in little jerkwater red-neck towns. Sorry, it''s just a fact.

[denn034]

I smell a lawsuit coming on.

[denn034]

Let me also say that police abuse is rare. Don''t let a few bad apples ruin it for the vast majority of good cops out there.

[sgtrds]

Some people can pass (psych) tests, but can''''t handle positions of authority!

(is it just me, or does this story and these comments remind you of the scene from South Park where Eric Cartmen is a police officer.... "you will respect my authoritaaayy!")

Posted by USAyesterday at 04:04 PM : Jan 03, 2008

I was thinking the same thing. it''s true that a cop can start out good and then go bad once they get a real taste of the power of being a cop. that''s when peer pressure from good cops and their supervisors must come into play. We must teach them that this defending every other cop, even when they''re wrong, is not being part of the brotherhood, but in fact hurts all cops and the force.

[michellem99-2009]

I am 53. THE BULLIES WERE PUT IN THEIR PLACE. THERE ARE GOOD/BAD COPS. I AM SCARED OF THEM FOR MY BLINDNESS AND C/P BUT I WILL DO MY BEST TO GIVE THEM THE DATA THEY WANT IF THEY ARE REAL COPS AND ON DUTY.Most cops are nice and humane. A few are not. RESPESCT is earnt dear. I have been treated nice by the cops. The crimmals they ask for what get.

[toolmangler-2009]

I have a right to question authority figures, in fact I believe it is my duty. Never forget that Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely.
Posted by kjejj at 03:33 PM : Jan 03, 2008


you do have the right to question an authority figure but not until he has the situation under control. Lack of control makes power figures feel threatened. they have been awarded the power to make life or death decisions when they are in fear of their life. IMHO only a "dummy" would try to assert ''his'' rights when an authority figure is feeling threatened. there are two people involved in this struggle, you, ''the suspect'' and the authority figure (whatever) and in todays society ''you'' must take a subordinate role in a dispute between you and a authority figure that has the ''legal'' power to take control of the situation.

[peach652]

He didn''t "torture" her. He stopped her from kicking out the window of the patrol car. SHE is responsible for the situation she was in and for her behavior which lead to being stunned.

[bb19631]

The woman was hysterical and out of her mind, I would have tased her also. I dont believe in tasing or bad cops, but this time it was warranted.

[jamesj49]

She didn''t look handcuffed in the photo to me. And she kicked out the rear window of a patrol car for goodness sake! That kind of behavior is just begging to be subdued. The taser is the most "humane" way.

[jamesj49]

She didn''t look handcuffed in the photo to me. And she kicked out the rear window of a patrol car for goodness sake! That kind of behavior is just begging to be subdued. The taser is the most "humane" way.

[bobnjersey]

the cop should be fired ... then sued for damages.

the taser (and pepper gas) should be used on all cops before they can use them on others.

if they can''t take it ... they shouldn''t be subjecting others to it.

[libra127]

The article doesn''t state what the charges against the woman were. A close reading of the article reveals that 1) she was in the back of the patrol car, 2) handcuffed, and 3) that is where she was tasered. As for trying to kick out the back window of the patrol car, I read it that she was trying to get away from the extremely painful tasering any way she could. The picture accompanying the article is misleading with regard to the facts stated in the article. It also sounds like the officer''s attorney advised him not to testify against her because he had no case against her. That and the fact the video shown at trial would bring out the officer''s bad behavior.

[michellem99-2009]

Thanks to Bush who has changed this nation that cops/armed forces are use to put fear in the hearts of all. read 1984, It may be a book..There has to be a stop to this madness. If people were/are raised right than we would not be in the boat we are in. They would be fewer laws. We would have parents that knew rright from wrong. Fewer shootings. We could go on.

[usakousagi]

the taser (and pepper gas) should be used on all cops before they can use them on others.

if they can''''t take it ... they shouldn''''t be subjecting others to it.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by bobnjersey

... it is, at least in Georgia.

[barbaraf4]

Thanks to Bush who has changed this nation that cops/armed forces are use to put fear in the hearts of all. Posted by MichelleM99
~~~~~
I agree 100%. Once upon a time, the police and armed forces were here to make sure OUR rights were being inforced. Now, they have unlimited authority and we have to tiptoe around saying "Yes, Sir, No, Sir".

I give you one example. Under TSA rules (you know, the rules that have only served to inconvenience everyone, which serve no purpose in the real world), you cannot wear a gel insert in your shoe. No exceptions, don''t even try. I wear an insert in my left shoe to help my plantar facsia. If I don''t wear my insert, I get shooting pains up the middle of my heel into my calf muscles. I am under doctor''s treatment. To fly to visit my daughter, I would have to put the inserts in my checked baggage and walk about a 100 miles at the airport, with my cane (which I never carry if I have my inserts).

So, it is not safe for me to have inserts in my shoe, but it is safe for me to carry a cane, a corkscrew, knitting needles, a cigar cutter and other items listed on the TSA site.

We do this without question, because to challenge it, you might end up strangling yourself on your handcuffs.

[aicohnx2]

Sounds like the cops testimony wouldn''t be very useful against the woman if he was caught in a lie in another investigation anyway.

Lawyers just love to attack credibility that way.

Putting him on the stand might put him in line for perjury charges as well as the federal civil rights charges he will likely face.

Getting him off the police force was the smartest thing that municipality did in 2007. My guess is this cop will wind up wearing a number, not a badge. And that is good right and proper.

[undermyboot]

The taser is the most "humane" way.
Posted by JamesJ49 at 04:45 PM : Jan 03, 2008
----------
It seems so "humane" until it is you that is tasered by an out of control thug hiding behind the protection of a badge that allows him to do whatever he wants. But hey, the police always follow the law and such a thingt will never happen to you! Right? ROFLMAO what an f''ing MORON.

[rohink-2009]

I''m not justifying the cop tasering her, but there is absolutely no respect for law and order anymore. Not all cops are bad, yes some are, but you can have your day in court.

[robertkjjj]

Kjejj says "I have a right to question authority figures, in fact I believe it is my duty." Sorry, but you are wrong. You absolutely do not have the right to grill a cop or act belligerent. You think you do, but you don''t. A traffic stop is not designed to be a "fair" system or a forum for your display of your %u201Crights%u201D. 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. You, on the other hand, KNOW the cop is trustable, and that he won''t hurt you (assuming you cooperate and treat him with respect). The cop deserves respect, manners, and compliance. He does not need boneheads who are going to confront, question, and be rude. Also, your belligerence will only succeed in getting you more tickets, larger fines, jail time, and an occasional beating. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar, but I''m sure that telling you that will go in one ear, and out the other; it''s clear there''s nothing in there to impede the flow of logic.

[rohink-2009]

Thanks to Bush who has changed this nation that cops/armed forces are use to put fear in the hearts of all. Posted by MichelleM99

Are you another one of the Bush obsessed, that thinks everything is his fault? You can''t be serious. This country has been going downhill long before Bush took office.

[rohink-2009]

Posted by robertkjjj

Good post.

[rohink-2009]

I am under doctor''''s treatment. To fly to visit my daughter, I would have to put the inserts in my checked baggage and walk about a 100 miles at the airport, with my cane (which I never carry if I have my inserts).

~~~~~~~

What airport do you travel from, that you have to walk 100 miles? I agree that some of the rules are ridiculous, mostly I believe, because we stopped using common sense since 911. We are so worried about offending someone or being accused of discrimination. That is not Bush''s fault. He does not have absolute power over every aspect of this country.

[krenz4]

I think that you folks who find everything to be Bush''s fault are nuts. what in the world are you going to do when he''s gone and we get the same *** from whoever else is elected , Dem or Republican. Are you going to be able to face the fact that it cannot be blamed on the Bush Admin. You guys wont have any way to use all the cool words youve invented to slam his administration. You might even have to face the fact that it was not his fault after all! Get a life people!!!

[barbaraf4]

Gee, why is that I''''m 50, have been stopped by cops over a dozen times in my life, but I''''ve never gotten so much as a nasty word from a cop, much less tasered? Is it because I always say "sir", and treat them with respect? Because I never resist or struggle? Because I never threaten them or make sudden moves? Nahhhh, I''''m sure it''''s all a coincidence. Silly me. Posted by robertkjjj
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The "yes, sir, master, sir" works pretty well, most of the time; however, what if you are in a situation that you seriously disagree with what the policeman is saying to you? Do you swallow your pride, kiss his b*u*t*t, get back in your car and pay the ticket or citation?

[rohink-2009]

The "yes, sir, master, sir" works pretty well, most of the time; however, what if you are in a situation that you seriously disagree with what the policeman is saying to you? Do you swallow your pride, kiss his b*u*t*t, get back in your car and pay the ticket or citation?

Posted by barbaraf4

~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~
That is what the court is for. You don''t have to kiss his buttt, just be respectful, not argue with a cop. And if you keep insisting on doing that, you get what you deserve.

[usayesterday]

And then every word from their mouths becomes null and void. It''''s like listening to the buzz of a fly that needs to be swatted.

Posted by michaelt302 at 06:14 PM : Jan 03, 2008
...........

LOL!

Great analogy!

[rohink-2009]

barbaraf4

Since when does a cop that pulls you over to issue a ticket, also become the judge and insist on you paying the fine then and there? What you sign is not an admission of guilt.

[robertkjjj]

Barbaraf4, yes, exactly. If you disagree, you can gently and politely ask for an explanation. If he refuses, give it up and contest it in court if you wish. You stand almost no chance of changing a cop''s mind on a ticket. But, if you get nasty or confrontational, you stand a very good chance of getting arrested. Play the odds and use common sense. I know some of you think the cops are your enemy. But they aren''t. They truly are here to keep you, your family, and your kids safer. They aren''t here to be your buddy or agree with all you say or think. And they certainly are not hired to be public punching bags for your insults. Treat them well, and you%u2019ll be treated well in return. If not, you deserve every single freekin volt they can throw at you.

[beehive21-2009]

Don''t mess with the law if you can''t take the stun. Great example ,why not to over drink,she probably was going to drive drunk ,kill some kid or baby then claim she remembered nothing ,lets stun her again.

[krenz4]

Hey vet, i never said Bush wasnt a bad guy, but has he done more wrong than any other administration when the wanted something they couldnt get legally? Anyway, i was attempting to stay on point with the post and ask how is police brutality bush''s fault? 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. I dont get it.

[barbaraf4]

Treat them well, and you%u2019ll be treated well in return. If not, you deserve every single freekin volt they can throw at you. Posted by robertkjjj
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was married to a cop for 7 years. They are not nice people. They carry an us-against-them mentality. You are either a cop or a "civilian". Civilians are automatically criminals. Most are alcoholics. Like I said, they are not nice people; they are not necessarily honest people.

[barbaraf4]

Treat them well, and you%u2019ll be treated well in return. If not, you deserve every single freekin volt they can throw at you. Posted by robertkjjj
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was married to a cop for 7 years. They are not nice people. They carry an us-against-them mentality. You are either a cop or a "civilian". Civilians are automatically criminals. Most are alcoholics. Like I said, they are not nice people; they are not necessarily honest people.

[libra127]

"And, video on TV of a nightstick beat-down is not good for the career either. Tasers solved a lot of that. Now, they can control a resistor, not kill them, and not much to show on TV either. "

Michael - I have to disagree with you there. The few times I have seen video of someone getting tasered it was horrific! They were screaming and writhing and obviously in as much pain (if not more) as someone being beating.

[rohink-2009]

I was married to a cop for 7 years. They are not nice people. They carry an us-against-them mentality. You are either a cop or a "civilian". Civilians are automatically criminals. Most are alcoholics. Like I said, they are not nice people; they are not necessarily honest people.

Posted by barbaraf4

Your marriage to a cop for 7 years doesn''t prove that cops are not nice people, some are some aren''t, some are alcoholics, some have a cop/civilian attitude. What does that have to do with keeping your mouth shut and not arguing with a cop, sign the ticket and then take it to court. How many cops are murdered each year from criminals that have been pulled over for a traffic violation? How many civilians were murdered by cops that pulled them over for traffic violations? Being married to a police officer for 7 years, you should be a bit more informed.

[rohink-2009]

Posted by rohink at 07:17 PM : Jan 03, 2008

rohink, what... are you on a single-handed sanctimonius crusade to tell everybody else their opinion doesn''''t count? I''''ll bet your a bitter aging woman....sheesh. Sanctimonius doof. A lot of cops really do have an us against them attitude. Enough that cops in general don''''t garner respect anymore. Now that''''s a problem and police departments know it.

Posted by FloydZepp

Yep that''s me, don''t forget sagging and arthritic.

[rohink-2009]

Posted by FloydZepp

What''s your purpose for posting on these sites?