Florida road rage taser incident

[Chad]

It's hard to follow the he said/he said in this, but it looks like the guy with the permit made a bad decision.
Note that there is no separate permit for tasers in Florida...in fact a permit is not required.
http://www.chronicleonline.com/articles/2007/04/21/news/news20.txt

Motorist admits to using taser on elderly man after U.S. 19 incident
By Cristy Loftis


A Spring Hill man was arrested Thursday in Crystal River after he used a taser on a 72-year-old man after their cars collided on U.S. 19.

Jack Vincent Dickerson, 31, was arrested on a charge of battery on a person 65 years of age or older, according to the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.

At about 6:30 a.m. Homosassa resident Donald Wallace was driving north on U.S. 19 to a dialysis appointment in Crystal River. Wallace said he saw Dickerson’s car following behind him with the bright lights on and as Dickerson passed his car, the vehicles collided, according to the arrest report.

Wallace said he and Dickerson both pulled over to check out the damage. Next Dickerson got out of his car, ran to Wallace’s and started shouting obscenities, Wallace told authorities.

When Wallace tried to open his door Dickerson reached in and punched him in the eye, according to the report.

An argument between the two men ensued and Wallace got out of his car. Wallace said Dickerson tried to attack him again, but this time Wallace punched him in the stomach, according to the report.

That’s when Dickerson walked back to his car and got his taser and shot Wallace with the device. Wallace fell to the ground and said the taser’s effects incapacitated him for about five seconds.

Wallace said he climbed back into his car and waited for law enforcement to arrive.

Dickerson told deputies that Wallace cut him off while they were driving on U.S. 19 and later hit his brakes while Dickerson was driving behind him.

When the two pulled over, Dickerson said they began arguing and Wallace punched him in the eye. When Wallace wouldn’t stop hitting him and later pushed him that’s when Dickerson used the taser he had gotten from his car.

Dickerson said he used the taser because he was in fear for his safety and his actions were in self-defense, according to the report.

Dickerson had a concealed weapons permit for the taser and also had two other guns in his car.

He later told a deputy that, looking back, he should have handled the incident differently, according to the report.

Throughout interviews with different deputies, the law enforcement officers said they noticed inconsistencies in Dickerson’s story. He was arrested and taken to the Citrus County Detention Facility. His bond was set at $2,000.

 

[plexreticle]

tough guy

 

[.cheese.]

huh? For a projectile firing taser, I believe a permit is required.

Am I wrong?

Personal "stun-guns" don't need a permit I don't believe.

 

[rbernie]

Disparity of force, indeed.

 

[rkh]

Regular, personal carry of tasers is a bad idea, IMO.

Private citizens aren't charged with defusing marginally dangerous situations like LEOs are. Duty to retreat, and all that.

If it escalates to the point where you need (and are entitled) to use force, it had better be deadly force. The window where less lethal munitions are justified but deadly force is not is very narrow indeed.

 

[Chad]

huh? For a projectile firing taser, I believe a permit is required.

Am I wrong?

Personal "stun-guns" don't need a permit I don't believe.

I wasn't sure either when I read the article.
Here's the relevant Florida statute:

790.01 Carrying concealed weapons.--

(1) Except as provided in subsection (4), a person who carries a concealed weapon or electric weapon or device on or about his or her person commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(2) A person who carries a concealed firearm on or about his or her person commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(3) This section does not apply to a person licensed to carry a concealed weapon or a concealed firearm pursuant to the provisions of s. 790.06.

(4) It is not a violation of this section for a person to carry for purposes of lawful self-defense, in a concealed manner:

(a) A self-defense chemical spray.

(b) A nonlethal stun gun or dart-firing stun gun or other nonlethal electric weapon or device that is designed solely for defensive purposes.

So among other things we have a typical media spin...the permit comment in the article is irrelevant to the weapon used.

 

[jdickerson]

What really happened

I as the defendant would like to tell you why I used my taser last week. What the sherriff's office and newspapers don't tell you is that I am recovering from a broken fibula/tibia, which is the reason I bought a non-lethal device. When I got out to inspect the damage, the "victim" sucker punched me. After trying to hit me again, I returned to my truck and retrieved the taser. I was unaware how far behind me he was which was the reason I didn't lock myself in the truck, which I wish I had. I made a clear warning to "stop hitting me, don't make me use this". After he hit me in the stomach, I fired. It was dark and I could not see how old the other guy was. The guy who said it is a bad idea to carry a taser could not be more right. I bought it as a means to protect myself without having to physically defend myself and worry about being accused of being the aggressor. I agree that the situation should of been handled differently, and if I had that 15 seconds to live over I would have. I understand I must accept the consequences for making a poor decision. I have since decided that no matter what the outcome, I will not carry a firearm or taser in my vehicle or on my person ever again. It is best to avoid putting yourself in a situation where something like this may happen. I now face the possibility of jail/prison and not watching my 1 year old baby girl and all of her new experiences that I have been so fortunate to be here for. As for the "road rage", what a joke. My truck is lifted, the guy thought I had my brights on and brake checked me. When I went to pass him in the right lane, he sped up. I did not realize this and clipped him, entirely my fault on that, but an accident. How do you road rage when you're trying to eat a chicken biscuit?

 

[czdavid]

I'm curious as to why you decided to defend yourself here? How did you come across THR?

 

[Chad]

Mr. Dickerson
As I said originally it's difficult to determine the facts from only the comments of the 2 people involved. Unfortunately that's true for a jury as well.
The media comments are discounted by anyone with any sense, but that's not everybody.

Many of us here often question how we would react in a given scenario, so I for one understand your comment about having that 15 seconds to live over again.

It's not for me to judge you. You seem to realize that you made some wrong decisions, and that's a first step towards a better personal future.
I wish you luck in that endeavor.

 

[Lashlarue]

Someone taser me, and when the police arrive there is dead taser operator in the middle of the road.He punched and tasered a man twice his age, that one would be no billed by any grand jury.

 

[jdickerson]

Response

I decided to defend myself here because this was the only site I found when I googled my name and taser, and I was curious as to people's thoughts. I was not looking for a place to defend myself, it just happened as I read the responses. I guess it just made me feel better to be able to tell my view of what happened to people I don't know to see what their response is. As Chad had indicated, there are two sides to every story and they are usually totally opposite. It's just sad that the media plays the gun and permit issue here, as it is irrelevant in this matter, just as the part where they describe he was on his way to dialysis. I could have been on my way to deliver food and toys to homeless cripppled children and they wouldn't have put that in there article, not that it would be relevant either. Out of the 7 deputies that responded, it was evident quickly who they were going to believe. The "inconsistincies" they claim was the fact that I could not tell them exactly where I was standing when I fired the taser. Thanks for the support, those of you who do.

 

[torpid]

...I am recovering from a broken fibula/tibia, which is the reason I bought a non-lethal device.

Could you elaborate on why the recent injury to your leg would compel you to buy a taser when you already had firearms? I'm not sure I understand.

 

[torpid]

...Although if you have a lawyer, I'm sure he'd advise you not to post about this incident.

 

[Chad]

...Although if you have a lawyer, I'm sure he'd advise you not to post about this incident.

That's a very good suggestion.

 

[stolivar]

Your an idiot

You used unnecessary force. You went back to your car to get the taser and shot him with it. that makes you the aggressor now. All you had to do was leave and call the police. You have no self defense for this.

Sounds to me you had road rage, and slammed on your brakes.

Which caused him to hit your car.......



steve:banghead: