Taser Rochester Mn Handgun Taser Mix-up Not First 2002
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Rochester. MN POST - BU LlETlN Rochester-Mason City-Austin Mit Aria D42,960 Salurd8Y SEP 14, 2002 111111111111111111111111111111111111111 I1Imrillil P3282 l!IL!1~L!lJ'Rl~SS C1.IPPINGS Handgun-TaseLmix-uJ) not the first on record dental, Rochester Police Chief Roger Peterson announced Thursday. However, Atak's attorneys say they will conduct an independent investigation of the shooting, which took place in northwest By Bob Freund Rochester. bfreund@postbuIletin.com According to police, Atalt . KRT was being subdued by Last week's incident in another officer when Officer The Taser's shape, hanRochester was not the first in Greg Siem arrived. Siem which a police officer mistak- placed an electrical stun gun, dle and- -trIgger closely resemble the handguns enly fired his handgun callea a Taser, in a cargo instead of a nonlethal stun carried by Rochester offipocket of !lis pants befo're gun to subdue a suspect cers, Police Chief Rogercoming to the other offi~er's In March 2001, a SacraPeterson saId. assistance, police said. The mento, Calif., police officer Taser temporarily incaPaciPeterson said the nonlethal made the same error while tates a combative persoil with Taser had fallen out of Siem's struggling with an intoxicated a high-voltage shock person. Peterson said an inv~tiga pants pocket, perhaps during the struggle with Atak The state Bureau of Crimtion by the BCA found that While the officers were inal Apprehension considers Siem mistook his handgun for the shooting of Christofar trYing to restrain him with the 'raser and fired it orlce, Atak on Sept 2 to be acciwounding Atak handcuffs, Siem tried to draw Similar incident happened in California FRONT PAGE the 'raser, but instead mistakenly drew the hantlgun from its holster, PetersoR said. Siem positioned the gun as a Taser is typically used and fired one shot inW Atak's back, a police narriative said. Siem recognized tlje mistake, dropped the gun lIfld called for medical help. Atak was in fak' condition Friday at Saint Ma1ys Hospital. He has had Surgery on a kidney. The Sacramento incident was similar, with Several officers trYing to resti;lin an intoxicated man who was fighting officers arid kicked out a window in a .squad car. In that incident, tlje stun gun was fired once, bqt only had temporary effect. During the struggle, which involved four poliCe officers, the man accidentally was shot in the buttocks, according to an account trom the Sacramento Police Department. The BCXs report will be reviewed by the Ramsey County Attorney's office to avoid any conflict of interest, Peterson said. The state investigators also are asking anyone with information about a vehicle that was in the area at the time to contact police. People in the area reported hearing loud screeching of tires in the area of 50th Street and 18th Avenue Northwest at 8:41 p.m., about five minutes before the gunshot The driver or passengers may be witnesses to the incident, police said. Anyone with information should call 2858580.