| Updated: 7/20/2012 9:34 pm |
Published: 7/20/2012 9:31 pm
|
A handcuffed woman shocked by a police officer’s taser is now suing the McAlester Police Department.
FOX23 obtained the surveillance video of the incident Friday.
The video shows the woman, identified as Nakina Williams, spitting on an officer just seconds before being shocked by officer Sterling Taylor’s taser.
It's now under investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation.
"It's a difficult job. I grant you," said Joel Kerns, Pittsburg County Sheriff.
Kerns told FOX23 Williams was arrested for failing to pay her child support.
"Nobody wants to come to jail. But some are different and combative than others," he said.
Kerns says the Taylor brought her in to the jail during a shift change, when she spit on him, you can see there was a lot of mouthing off before Williams is shocked by the taser.
"When we bring them in to be booked, we try to have the right amount of people there to handle them," said Kerns.
OSBI is investigating whether this officer used unnecessary force. Law enforcement officers we spoke with say the officer went too far in tasing the woman.
"I don't know the policies of the other departments," Kerns told FOX23.
FOX23 attempted to reach the McAlester police chief. We were told he was gone for the day and that the police department wouldn't be releasing a statement.
Williams is charged with assault and battery on a police officer, which is a felony.
