TASER Used to Bring Man under Control after Car Chase

Iowa State Troopers used a TASER to subdue the driver of a stolen car in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Sunday, November 29, 2009. The man was apprehended after a car chase that began near 16th and L Streets. Troopers began pursuit after noticing that the car did not have valid license plates.

While the man eventually did stop the car, he was still unwilling to go into police custody. He refused to get out of the car or even open the doors or windows. Sgt. Mike Wesack said that troopers took out the windows of the car and used a TASER to gain greater control of the situation.

The man was taken to a hospital as a precautionary measure. No ill effects from the TASER have been reported.

This is a situation where the use of a TASER in a highly charged situation resolved a stalemate without the risks associated with more lethal weapons.

Studies have shown that the elevated heart rate associated with police car chases, both low and high speed, can impair judgment and lead to more fatalities and injuries in a post-chase confrontation. The use of a non-lethal weapon in such situations limits the scope of split second decisions made in a highly charged atmosphere and reduces the risk of injury to both the police and the suspects.

The TASER was used effectively in this situation to protect the public, the suspect, and the police by limiting the amount of force required to quickly resolve the problem