July 25, 2008
Tasered Grandpa Sues Hospital
Ohio Man, 67, Claims Guards Got Outraged Over What He Meant As Joke
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Play CBS Video Video Hospital Tasers Sr. Citizen Exclusive: A reverend claims his behavior at a hospital did not warrant staff removing him, beating him and using a taser to subdue him. Harry Smith talks to Rev. Al Poisson and his lawyer.
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Video, taken by security cameras, showing incident involving Al Poisson (CBS/EARLY SHOW)
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Al Poission on The Early Show Friday (CBS/EARLY SHOW)
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Much of the incident was caught by surveillance cameras.
Al Poisson, 67, says he was visiting a friend in St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center a year ago and was in a very good mood when he came upon a glum-looking guard and joked with him.
"I said (to the guard), 'Are you happy today?' Poisson told Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith Friday. "He said, 'Yeah.' I said, 'Well, you oughta tell your face!' "
Poisson added that, "It went downhill from there" and turned into an "atrocious, unbelievable situation, to say the least."
The guards wound up taking Poisson outside the building, where they used a taser and/or stun gun on him, dropping him to his knees and, he says, beat, kicked and "manhandled" him when he was down.
It all happened in front of Poisson's son and Poisson's six-year-old grandson.
The Web site of CBS affiliate WTOL-TV in Toledo cites Poisson's lawsuit as claiming Poisson's son pleaded with the guards to stop because Poisson has a bad heart
The Web site also says a police report quotes the security guards as asserting that Poisson provoked them and that, once outside, Poisson elbowed one guard and tried to pull his hair while on the ground.
The guards called Toledo police and had Poisson arrested for alleged assault, but those charges have since been dropped.
Poisson says he used to go to St. Vincent's regularly to pray with patients, but no longer can cope with doing that. He also says he's had to give up his duties at a local soup kitchen that's since closed.
Poisson is seeking punitive damages of an unspecified amount, along with damages for pain, suffering, medical expenses and lost income. The lawsuit also says the hospital doesn't train its security personnel properly.
St. Vincent's issued a statement saying, "According to our policy regarding physical aggression, the use of a taser is warranted if someone attempts to physically attack a staff member, patient or visitor. We conducted an internal review of this incident that determined the response to the aggression was appropriate."
"That's not true at all," Poisson responded to Smith when the statement was read.
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Add a Comment See all 107 Comments
- In regards to "hospital security guards" Tazering a visitor.
I am of the opinion that law enforcement SHOULD NOT be allowed to carry or use "tazers." This weapon is being used in excess, and as an "I can hurt you, and you can not do anything about it! Police are not the "good guys" we want to see them as. A good number of the "new generation" of law enforcement personal are young bullies.
The tazer is a fine defensive weapon for a private citizen but should NOT be allowed in the hand of security guards or police.
BTW, I am a 58 year old man, that was a deputy sheriff when I returned from Viet Nam. I quit that job because I would NOT lie!
Pat Weaver - Reply to this comment
- In regards to "hospital security guards" Tazering a visitor.
I am of the opinion that law enforcement SHOULD NOT be allowed to carry or use "tazers." This weapon is being used in excess, and as an "I can hurt you, and you can not do anything about it! Police are not the "good guys" we want to see them as. A good number of the "new generation" of law enforcement personal are young bullies.
The tazer is a fine defensive weapon for a private citizen but should NOT be allowed in the hand of security guards or police.
BTW, I am a 58 year old man, that was a deputy sheriff when I returned from Viet Nam. I quit that job because I would NOT lie!
Pat Weaver - Reply to this comment
- The very first line of this article identifies this Poisson individual as a grandfather and a preacher. Why not just give his name and age ? It seems the author was attempting to imply that this was some person of special status. Having grandkid[s] and being employed in some way does not mean he''s not a d*ck.
- Reply to this comment
- Good saying, he should win
- Reply to this comment
- There is part of this story missing.
Pastor gave the smart *** comment, then reports it went downhill from there.
What was said there? The guards came running to escort him out. WHY? What else did the "good reverend" do? - Reply to this comment
- he came upon a glum-looking guard
What part of leave me alone don''''t people understand??!
Posted by loneeagle57
Yeah, it would tick me off to have some jerk tell me what my facial expression should be. But shouldn''t at least one of the pack of guards have said, hey now, we can''t just beat the tar out of this guy for having bad manners? - Reply to this comment
- he came upon a glum-looking guard
What part of leave me alone don''t people understand??! - Reply to this comment
- I usually do too. However in this case I can relate to the security guard.
I don''t really like being told how to act whether my job requires me to or not. For a pastor to give a comment like that was uncalled for.
I would not have used a weapon on him. However my attitude towards this man would have told him to leave me alone. As I stated I agree with the guard snapping back. That does not mean that what was done was right - Reply to this comment
- This hospital visitor seems annoying as all get out, but he was apparently beaten for no good reason. Why aren''t the guards arrested for assault? Are they protected by law because they are security guards?
- Reply to this comment
- loneeagle
I always like to hear both sides of a story before deciding who i think is right. - Reply to this comment
