An Anne Arundel police officer used a red laser light ? not a Taser gun ? to subdue a knife-wielding man, four days after the county started its pilot program testing the use of Taser guns.
When the man refused to put down the knife down, the officer drew the Taser from its holster and aimed the laser sight at the man.
Seeing the red dot on his chest, the man dropped the knife and was arrested June 5 on Moraine Drive in Hanover.
“This is exactly the type of scenario we want to play out in each of these kinds of situations ? by not having to use any force at all,” county police spokesman Cpl. Mark Shawkey said.
The county police hope the Tasers will help reduce injuries to suspects and officers, Shawkey said. But the device has been the point of controversy recently as four people have died after a Taser gun was used on them.
Taser announced Wednesday the 50th dismissal of a wrongful death suit against the company.
The Taser temporarily overrides a person?s nervous system and causes a loss of muscle control, according to Taser?s Web site.
Anne Arundel police have 50 Tasers. As part of the training, Taser users are shocked themselves to prevent abuse, Shawkey said. The department is evaluating the Taser?s role and is looking to other Taser programs in surrounding jurisdictions, Shawkey said.
In Howard County, police have purchased Tasers but have not trained with them or deployed them, police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn said.
“It was decided that having Tasers as an additional tool to protect officers and citizens would be prudent,” Llewellyn said.
Carroll County Sheriff?s Department spokesman Lt. Phil Kasten did not return calls for comment.
