On 14 August last year, LAPD officers were responding to reports of an alleged burglary attempt when they came upon Daniel Rivera, 37, standing near a ravine. Body-camera footage showed he hopped a fence into the wash, and was lying face down on the ground, largely motionless, as police approached.
Even though he was unarmed and not moving, one officer kneeled on his back, two others handcuffed him, one shoved his face into the ground, and another shocked him with a Taser four times, causing his body to convulse, according to a lawsuit and footage. He appeared to call for help and scream in pain, but officers kept him largely face down for about seven minutes.
Tasers look and feel different from pistols in a number of ways, and most police forces including Brooklyn Center’s have standard precautions and protocols in place to prevent the sort of mix-up that can be deadly.
Tasers are often produced in bright colors, or with neon accents, to distinguish them from pistols. The Brooklyn Center Police Department manual cites the Glock 17, 19 and 26 as standard-issue for the department. All three pistol models weigh significantly more than a typical Taser. Glocks also have a trigger safety that can be felt when touching the trigger. Tasers do not. Grips on Tasers are typically different from those of firearms, as well, though they may feel similar because both are usually made of a similar type of polymer.
1303 The chief of police for Brooklyn Center, Minn., where Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, was fatally shot by a white officer on Sunday, said on Monday that the shooting was an accident. The officer, Kimberly A. Potter, a 26-year veteran of the force, had intended to deploy her Taser, the chief said at a news conference, but had shot her service pistol instead. Tasers look and feel different from pistols in a number of ways, and most police forces including Brooklyn Center’s have standard precautions and protocols in place to prevent the sort of mix-up that can be deadly.
Aubrey Wright and Katie Wright spoke to ABCâs Good Morning America after a second night of protests over their sonâs death in a traffic stop on Sunday in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center.
The official explanation of officer Kim Potterâs actions, by police chief Tim Gannon at a Monday press conference, angered Aubrey Wright, who pointed to the officerâs considerable experience.
âI lost my son, heâs never coming back,â Aubrey Wright said. âI canât accept that, a mistake, that doesnât even sound right. This officer has been on the force for 26 years. I canât accept that.â
US police shooting: How could the police have mistaken a gun for a Taser?
13 Apr, 2021 07:58 PM
6 minutes to read
A Black Lives Matter protest following the death of Daunte Wright. Photo / Getty Images
New York Times
By: Shawn Hubler and Jeremy White The chief of police for Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, where Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, was fatally shot by a white officer, said that the shooting was an accident. The officer, Kimberly A. Potter, a 26-year veteran of the force, had intended to deploy her Taser, the chief said at a news conference, but had shot her service pistol instead.