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Local News

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Teen's dad wants police apology
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By JORDAN CRAVENS

staff writer

The father of a 15-year-old Findlay boy who was Tasered in the back of the head while fleeing police Sunday wants police to apologize to his son.

Daniel Weitzel has also filed a complaint with the Findlay Police Department.

Police Capt. Sean Young on Wednesday confirmed the complaint was filed. But, he said, because the incident is still under investigation, he could not release a copy of the complaint, nor could he comment on the nature of the complaint.

Weitzel said Wednesday he was upset police had not apologized directly to his son, Malachai.

Young issued an apology for the teen's injuries when he spoke Tuesday to Findlay Rotary.

On Wednesday, Young said, "We apologize he was hurt, but I am not apologizing for the officer's actions."

A preliminary investigation shows the boy was Tasered in the head by accident, Young said. One prong from the stun gun struck the 5-foot-6 inch, 120-pound boy in the head and a second one in his shoulder. The boy's height and weight were listed in a police report, but the boy's father said he is 5-feet-7 inches tall and weighs 130 pounds.

Based on the preliminary investigation, Young said it appears Officer Richard Warner, a nine-year veteran of the department, followed department policy regarding use of force.

According to the department's "Use of Force" policy, "officers may use force only when necessary to accomplish lawful objectives and then only when all other reasonable means to accomplish the objectives have been exhausted, or are reasonably deemed to be inadequate."

To determine what degree force can be used, an officer must take into consideration "the totality of the circumstances of the events giving rise to the use of force" including: the level of resistance an officer encounters, the ratio of officers to offenders, "special circumstances/psychological intimidation" and availability of other options, according to the policy.

Weitzel was Tasered by Warner after the boy allegedly shoplifted a screwdriver set from the Trenton Avenue Walmart and then fled from police on a bike and later on foot, according to police.

The teen was repeatedly ordered to stop fleeing police, and was also told numerous times he would be Tasered if he continued to flee, Young said.

Weitzel said police should revise the policy on Taser use.

"I really do believe they need to review when a Taser is used based on how extreme the crime is, especially with juveniles," Weitzel said.

The teen was released from the hospital Monday afternoon, but doctors told him he has a small amount of bleeding on his brain and a severe concussion. He also has visible cuts, scrapes and a swollen eye from the incident.

On Wednesday, Weitzel's father said his son's head is still throbbing from the incident, but his scrapes are starting to heal.

"He is sleeping most of the day, but the doctors said to expect that," he said.

Cravens: 419-427-8422,

Send an e-mail to Jordan Cravens


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158 Comments (16 pages)

Latest comments listed first.
respectifully wrote:
RWS
“ The accident was someone hitting the car my daughter was in. She was on her way home with her friends. Not drinking, not smoking, not doing ANYTHING wrong. I was told she was under arrest by the police officer. They didn't mouth off or anything.

As for your comments of me having control of my daughter, she was out 1/2 hour after curfew, I don't call that bad, she's a responsible child that works 2 jobs, just graduated and is going to college. More than I can say for most children. I trust my daughter because she behaves like an responsible person. YES she was out after curfew. But handcuffs are just STUPID and above and beyond anything. Whether you know the law or not.The cop didn't even ask them if they were ok.

I TRUST MY CHILD AND I DO CARE, I don't have to be CONTROLING. obviously you have never taken care of teens that you TRUST, she was in the wrong place at the wrong time and that was unfortunate. I was glad she was ok, and the cop was a jerk period ”
Monday, June 21, 2010 11:31:04 AM
Doug wrote:
Thank you!
“ Apology accepted....... ”
Sunday, June 20, 2010 12:05:23 PM
cm wrote:
16 pages
“ 16 pages, 155 comments enough is enough. I'm tired of it ”
Sunday, June 20, 2010 10:28:59 AM
Eclipse wrote:
Tazering Incident
“ Doug - I apologize! ”
Saturday, June 19, 2010 9:51:03 PM
R wrote:
150 comments?
“ Are you people kidding me? 150 comments? You all need to get a life! It happened, get over it. Are any of you aware that the WORST ecological disaster ever is occurring right now? Do you care? You should be more concerned that BP is going to get away with homicide of 11 humans and mass amounts of wildlife for PROFIT!!

This town is so small minded........ ”
Saturday, June 19, 2010 11:05:48 AM
Doug wrote:
Integrity!
“ Eclipse, I had asked for an apology due to the FACT that you accused me of posting something on the Tazer incident when I had not posted anything on that topic, which is a fact as well. Like I said, there is more than 1 Doug that posts on here and you had the wrong Doug when you accused me. I guess that just shows us all what kind of integrity you have, proven wrong, refuses to admit wrong doing!

Personally, I am not one that agrees with the tazering of anyone unless an officers safety in in jeopardy, period! I personally think a tazer should only be used when an officer would actually use a hand gun for the same incident, but uses a tazer as a less than lethal form of force!

At no time did I ever ATTACK Ava, I questioned her own contradicting statement, which is nothing more than what the police or the prosecutor would do when getting a conflicting statement of I saw who did the shooting, and the gunfire woke me! Facts of law are very specific, if you don't understand that you need to educate yourself on facts of law! You seem to want to go back to the days when one person could accuse another of being a witch and that person would be burned at the stake without proper proof of facts! Move to China or the Middle Eat as they seem to still like to persecute people without total facts, you would fit right in!

I have no problem standing up and saying when I post something or I wouldn't post anything.

Apology please! ”
Saturday, June 19, 2010 10:12:55 AM
Doug W wrote:
Sorry
“ Hey Doug, this is Doug W.. I'm sorry for having the same name and confusing the audience even though we sign our names differently. :-) lmao ”
Saturday, June 19, 2010 7:11:32 AM
Ernies' Left Foot wrote:
The Taser Story
“ I would like to point out something I have not seen addressed regarding this story. It was a very nice screwdriver that was stolen - just saying! ”
Saturday, June 19, 2010 4:05:04 AM
bws wrote:
re: respectfully
“ Theres something about your story that doesnt add up. IF your daughter was in an accident and the first thing the officer did was yank her out and put her in cuffs, then there was probably a good reason for it. Either she or the people she was with were doing something bad enough that the officer felt they needed to be restrained.

Generally, what I know of the law, the only time someone is read their rights is when they are arrested. However, if she wasnt arrested and was simply released into your custody, then whats your problem? Based on the information, your daughter (still a minor at the time) was out with her friends after curfew (you apparently didnt have any control over her or didnt know where she was), was in an accident (and thankfully not injured) and youre upset with the police?
 ”
Friday, June 18, 2010 7:36:33 PM
Ed wrote:
Taser
“ I will stand on the side of the Findlay Police until proven wrong. They got it right by stopping the "kid". I am very sure they are still working the case of the shooter, too. They don't have to tell you anything about an ongoing investigation. The taser incident was not punishment, but a method of stopping a criminal from escaping. A criminal that is trying to escape must assume the responsibility if anyone (including the criminal) is injured. This includes property damage. I am very amused at the attempted writings of AVA. Julie had it right, too...pull the kids out of what ever school Ava attended before it's too late! Now, Findlay, isn't there something else we can talk about...? ”
Friday, June 18, 2010 7:18:58 PM
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