Oregon Officers Justified in Taser Deaths of Walter McKelvey and Gregory Price

A Douglas County grand jury has found that police officers in two separate incidents were justified in using taser guns against unarmed men -- both of whom died when their paths crossed with police.

The findings, released by the Douglas County District Attorney's office, involve a March 3 incident in which Douglas County Sheriff's deputies used a Taser on Walter Ray McKelvey, 26, and a June 22 incident in which Roseburg Police officers used a Taser on Gregory Allen Price, 56.

Read the rest of the OregonLive article.

This blog will continue to track taser-related killings that occur in America from time to time. However, we are unable to maintain the daily vigil on this issue that we once kept. Please feel free to let us know if you have any taser-related news that you think we should share in the future.

Joe Paterno Should be Fired; Penn State Grand Jury Report Shows That Evil Sex Abuse Was Covered Up

Joe Paterno has worked for over 60 years for Penn State. He has been a legendary head coach who earned two national championships and has won more games than any other coach in the history of football. He has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for Penn State University.

Jerry Sandusky

Coach Paterno's close friend for many of his years at Penn State is a guy named Jerry Sandusky. Jerry Sandusky was the defensive coordinator for both of the Penn State national championships.

Jerry Sandusky is also a pedophile. He likes to have sex with young children ... as young as 10- or 11-year olds. In fact, he was caught by a Penn State graduate assistant having anal sex with a young middle-school student in the Penn State showers. The incident was reported to Coach Joe Paterno.

Here is the 23-page grand jury testimony that lays out the entire story:

Penn State Sex Crime Grand Jury Testimony

View more documents from Wayne Hicks

Joe Paterno

Villagers, I understand that Joe Paterno announced that he will retire at the end of the season. It is my view that Joe Paterno forfeited the chance to have a say in his retirement when he allowed his friend to sexually abuse a minor in his facility ... and then decided to cover it up to protect his legacy and the reputation of Penn State.

Joe Paterno should be fired immediately and not allowed to coach the game this weekend. Period.

If this had happened with any other university official ... or with a football player on the team ... he would be SUSPENDED immediately (if not FIRED immediately). Why is Joe Paterno getting a pass? Just because he's an old white guy?

Did you read the transcript? That is why I posted it ... once you read the transcript then you know that all bets are off. This is a disgusting, illegal and immoral pattern of behavior that was condoned and covered up by Joe Paterno, his staff and Penn State University.

Not only should Joe Paterno be fired ... I hope that his players all walk to the 50-yard line at the beginning of the game on Saturday ... then in unison they should take off their helmets and sit down ... I hope that the players REFUSE to play the dayum game.

What say u?

Taser-Cop Diane Chandler Cleared for Fatal Shooting of Linda Hicks

A grand jury ruled that Toledo Police Officer Diane Chandler, who fatally shot Linda Hicks, will not be indicted on a murder charge. [SOURCE]

Chandler responded to a group home on Fernwood Dec. 14 after the home owner called police saying the 62-year-old Hicks was off her medication and acting uncontrollably.

Police say Hicks walked toward the officers with scissors raised and made threats. Chandler shot her in the head twice after a taser used by Officer Rebecca Kenney malfunctioned.

Grand Jury Clears Ft. Worth Cop in Taser-Killing of Michael Jacobs

Police officer Stephanie Phillips, who used a Taser in the homicide of 24-year old Michael Jacobs for 49 seconds was no-billed by a Tarrant County grand jury today.

The grand jury was asked to consider criminal charges for her actions in the April 2009 death of Michael Jacobs. He died within an hour of being shocked, and the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's office ruled the death a homicide caused by the Taser.

The Fort Worth Police Department has not disciplined Phillips for the incident and does not plan to do so. Perhaps the police in Texas and elsewhere will have an open mind on December 4th as we join in a Day of Blogging for Justice: Stop Taser Torture online activism event.

Grand Jury Clears Cops in Taser-Killing of Kevin LaDay in Texas

I don't think that the penalty for running away from the police should be death. The grand jury in Hardin County grand jury doesn't agree with me.

The grand jury reviewed the evidence in the death of 35-year old Kevin LaDay and decided that there was no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of Lumberton police or Hardin County deputies, and they used no more force than was reasonable and necessary.

LaDay died on April 30 after a struggle with Lumberton Police and deputies. They say LaDay's car ended up in a ditch off Highway 69 near a nursing home, and he ran. Police used a taser on him. He later died at a hospital.

An autopsy ordered by a justice of the peace indicated LaDay died from PCP toxicity and his death was ruled accidental.

The grand jury's decision not to indict the officers brings an end the county's criminal investigation.

"My officers acted appropriately in the circumstances and I know they're gratified with the grand jury's decision," said Lumberton Police Chief Danny Sullins. "I'm relieved. It has to go through the process but we always believed we'd get this behind us and move on. The officers have continued doing their jobs for the citizens of Lumberton and will continue doing so."

A spokeswoman for the FBI indicates that they will send an independant report to the Justice Department now that the grand jury ruling is completed. I hope that the FBI and the Justice Department will provide some public insight into taser abuse in advance of the December 4th Day of Blogging Justice to stop taser torture.