TASER Subdues Drunken Man During DUI Arrest

A Texas man was stopped for driving under the influence by Houston County Sheriff Deputies but when he attempted to run from officers he was also charged with felony third degree escape.

The man, who appeared in court this week, was pulled over as part of Thanksgiving Day precautions against drunk driving. When sheriff deputies attempted to arrest him for driving under the influence he twisted out of the handcuffs and ran away from the patrol car.

Another sheriff’s deputy used a TASER on the man, who nonetheless continued to run away. The first deputy used another TASER on the man and noted that the man “fought until the end.” It took three or four deputies to handcuff and arrest the man, even after receiving two TASER shots.

The man maintained at the hearing that he was not drunk at the time and wasn’t being unruly until they attempted to “lock [him] up.” He notes that he should not have tried to run away.

The District Court Judge set a $15,000 bond for the resisting arrest charge, a misdemeanor, and a $5,000 bond for the driving under the influence (DUI) charge. The man also received a $15,000 bond for the felony third degree escape charge.

The man, who if not drunk at the time, was highly agitated and in an altered state. He was a considerable risk to police officers and citizens in the area. Although TASERs alone did not subdue the man, they were an important tool in helping to control a highly agitated person.