Deaf woman claims 911 call got her zapped with Taser

BY Tim Haeck  on August 6, 2012 @ 5:24 am (Updated: 6:19 am - 8/6/12 )

A Tacoma woman, deaf since birth, claims police officers zapped her with a Taser, handcuffed her and arrested her after she called police for help.

The call to 911 last April was done with a special telephone. An interpreter trained in sign language gave a dispatcher Lashonn White's information that she was being assaulted.

KIRO TV reports that internal police records seem to show that responding officers were told the victim was deaf and given the names of the victim and her attacker.

When officers arrived, White ran out of her apartment to meet police. That's when she was hit with the Taser.

In his report, one officer claims he yelled at White to stop and held up his right hand as a signal. But a neighbor, interviewed by KIRO TV, insists the officer never held up his hand. She says she went over and talked to officers, whom she says admitted confusion, claiming they thought White was coming at them, fist clenched, not running to them for help.

KIRO TV reports Tacoma Police have not responded to their requests for an explanation of what happened.

White, who has no criminal record, was jailed for two days on suspicion of simple assault and obstructing police and then released when no charges filed.

Tim Haeck, KIRO Radio Reporter
Tim Haeck is a news reporter with KIRO Radio. While Tim is one of our go-to, no-nonsense reporters, he also has a sensationally dry sense of humor and it will surprise some to learn he is a weekend warrior.
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Comments (17)


  • Add A Comment

  • hpygolkyone wrote...
    Here We Go.........
    August 6, 2012 5:48 am
    Here comes a multi, multi million dollar lawsuit.

    .....and you know what? I wouldn't blame her one bit. I would be extremely PISSED OFF if I got tased and then spent 2 days in jail on top of that.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 333 wrote...
    ok
    August 6, 2012 7:10 am
    first, ignore anything AJ says, i'm not even reading his posts.. Second, ok they made a mistake, I can see how that happened....but two days in Jail??!!?? Something wrong here that needs to get fixed.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 333 wrote...
    Bman98121
    August 6, 2012 9:33 am
    you called it right. AJ Blames others for all is faults. No Contact order=violation=cops get called=he gets arrested=he hates cops.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 333 wrote...
    there he is
    August 6, 2012 11:38 am
    there's the AJ we all know too well. I rest my case.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 333 wrote...
    bman98121
    August 6, 2012 12:55 pm
    no one scared me off...i have a life. and if you really believe what AJ said?? i mean really??come on.. i just made him mad and he re-acted like a 12 year old with nothing better to say but some made up nonsense...come on man!?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 333 wrote...
    AJ
    August 6, 2012 1:32 pm
    AJ is just mad because i made fun of his crappy youtube music, god it's horible....someone found the programable drum machine on a casio.....AJ you're a freak.please provide links to your nonsense
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jpetro wrote...
    I will
    August 6, 2012 2:44 pm
    check in tomorrow to see if you guys are still at it. Other than that sounds like TPD screwed up
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 333 wrote...
    no aj
    August 6, 2012 4:08 pm
    it sucked
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 333 wrote...
    aj
    August 6, 2012 4:11 pm
    one more thing, you just admitted to not knowing anything about me....so much for your previous posts...no wonder no one likes you. rocket scientist you're not.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chris Halliday wrote...
    Test test test
    August 6, 2012 5:43 pm
    I just had to see if my name still works as I haven't posted in a while. I don't think anyone ever fully agrees with what I have to say. I do hate all cops and it's nice to see stories like this one. Their city or county will most certainly have to pay that poor women some large amount of cash I would hope. If they don't pay, I'm a firm believer in karma which will haunt them on so many different levels. Even if a suit against them is successful karma will still bite them in their rear ends.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }