Video Surfaces Of BART Officer Repeatedly Using Stun Gun On Passenger
SAN BRUNO (KPIX 5) – Video has been obtained by KPIX 5 showing a BART police officer who repeatedly used a stun gun to subdue a passenger in front of other riders.
A woman who witnessed the incident, who did not want to go on camera, told KPIX 5 the man was harmless and that the officer used the stun gun for no reason.
The video, which was taken on the evening of January 29th, begins with the BART officer giving the man a stern warning on a train at the San Bruno station.
"Sir, get off the train. Get off the train, Sir!" the officer said.
KPIX 5 has learned that someone on the train called BART Police to say the man was harassing riders. An officer arrived and tried to convince the man to come talk to him on the platform. He did not comply.
While witnesses were heard on the video saying the man had done nothing wrong and not bothering anyone, the officer used the stun gun on the passenger.
As riders look on, the video shows the man being dragged to the aisle. "Don't move or I'll tase you again," the officer was heard saying.
But that was not the end. Moments later, the officer said to the man, "Get on your stomach or I'll tase you again."
Minutes pass and more officers arrive. As the man was being held down and handcuffed, the video shows the same officer using the stun gun on the passenger for five seconds.
One witness was so horrified that she wrote a blog post about the incident and later reported it to BART Police.
In a statement to KPIX 5, BART said, "As per policy and protocol, BART Police has initiated the proper investigation into the incident."
The video has been forwarded to the independent auditor for BART Police.
The man was booked for resisting arrest and public intoxication that night. Officials said he also had a warrant for a parole violation.
BART policy states that a stun gun can only be used if the suspect poses an immediate threat of bodily harm to the officer or another person.
