Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Dallas Officers Mock Man While Tasering Him

Two weeks after an officer's traffic stop made national news, CBS 11 News has learned about another incident involving officers who allegedly mocked a man while he was being tasered.

The patrol car video will not be released until department officials determine whether to file criminal charges in the case.

The two sergeants have been taken off the street for an incident that some officers say could become as embarrassing for the department as traffic stop involving Ryan Moats.

It was the early morning hours of March 20 when three men were being arrested for assault along I-45.

Officers at the scene say Eric Delagarza was combative and had to be tasered by one of the officers. But it's what was said during that moment that has set off an investigation.

"Something took place out there that one officer found inappropriate," said Dallas Police Lt. Andy Harvey

The unnamed officer initiated a public integrity investigation, making allegations that while Delagarza was being tasered, one of the officers at the scene reportedly "told the suspect to take it like a man" while another shouted, "Do you want another one?"

During that time, sources say Delagarza was heard screaming on the patrol car video.

Sources say it's unclear on the video which officers were heard on the tape shouting at the suspect.

Two sergeants have been reassigned because they were supervisors and department officials are also investigating the actions of the officer who fired the taser.

It comes while the city is still reeling from the North Dallas traffic stop in which Officer Robert Powell delayed a family from reaching the bedside of a dying relative.

We were referred to an attorney when we tried to speak with the tasered suspect.

One of the two sergeants reassigned has been accused of excessive force before, but the allegations were never proven. Sources in the department say the senior officers are disturbed by what they've seen on the video.

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