Danielle Maudsley, a 20-year-old woman has been left brain dead – after she was Tasered by police and smacked her head on the ground.
Danielle Maudsley had been taken to a Florida Highway Patrol Station after being arrested for a suspected hit-and-run in September. Handcuffed, she ran out of the door.
But as footage from a police cruiser dashboard camera reveals, Trooper Daniel Cole, who this week was cleared of any wrongdoing, fired a Taser’s electric probes into her back.
Danielle Maudsley spun, fell backwards and hit her head on the ground. Bleeding and crying she tried to get up. She then blacked out and has remained unconscious ever since.
Doctors say Danielle Maudsley, who was found to have cocaine and oxycodone in her system at the time, is unlikely to ever wake up.
Her mother Cheryl Maudsleyhas slammed the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and Florida Department of Law Enforcement for its reports that both cleared Cole.
Cheryl Maudsley told the Tampa Bay Times she was suing FHP, and added: “Tell me that’s not excessive force. I’m not saying she was an angel, but she didn’t deserve that.
“He couldn’t reach out and grab her? He was an arm’s length away. My daughter is dead because of this. She won’t come back.”
Danielle Maudsley, who had a suspended driving license, was arrested earlier that day for allegedly leaving the scene of two traffic accidents.
At the station, the woman tried to escape. Daniel Cole, worried she would be hit by a car as she ran towards the direction of U.S. 19, gave chase.
Daniel Cole said that because of the immediacy of the situation, and the fact he feared one or both of them would be injured if he tackled her, he went for his Taser.
When asked if he would have done anything differently, Daniel Cole said: “No, I would not have.”
Experts have now questioned the use of the Taser.
Greg Connor, professor at the University of Illinois Police Training Institute who specialises in use of force, said: “It just doesn’t make any sense. I don’t see where it’s going to be that hard to apprehend her.”
And nationally known use-of-force expert Dave Klinger, a retired Los Angeles police officer and professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, said it was an “inappropriate” police tactic.
But Sgt Steve Gaskins said: “The Florida Department of Law Enforcement conducted an independent review. FDLE’s investigation found the trooper’s actions were legal and within the scope of his duties.”
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If this were a guy, it wouldn’t have made the news. I feel bad for the police officer. I don’t know why anyone would be a cop given the civil dangers involved. When you run from a law enforcement officer, they have the option to taze you. Should women be immune to apprehension? Absolutely not. She was a coked up skank with a criminal record. She got what she deserved. Wake up girls. Equality is what it is. Don’t do the crime if you can’t handle reality. That goes for the guys as well.