9&10 News: TC Teen Tasered During Drunk Driving Arrest

TC Teen Tasered During Drunk Driving Arrest
Posted: 10/30/2009

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When police finally caught up with a suspected drunk driver early Friday morning, it turned out to be a 17-year-old girl behind the wheel. And she didn't want to stop.

State police tried to stop the teen on Milliken Drive near East Front Street in Traverse City. She refused to stop and they say she intentionally hit the patrol car.

Police managed to arrest her, but were forced to taser her 17-year old passenger when she tried to run away. Both are from Traverse City.

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11/3/2009 - Good job

Posted By: Scott (Cadillac) | Hide
As far as I am concern the police officers were right in what they did. In most states cops have the right to shoot if someone tries to run them down
11/2/2009 - What if...

Posted By: Eddie (TC) | Hide
What if the 17 y/o driver would have killed someone, then you all would be posting other things, the Police did what they felt was the right thing to do, good going the the officers that stopped it without anyone getting seriously hurt. I hope that the 17 year old learns from this and has to pay big time fines for her actions
11/1/2009 - child tazer

Posted By: ron (tvc) | Hide
heehe I think it is funny that the parents of this "child" are no where to be found. I was wondering what time at night might this childish behaveour take place. oh yeah alcohol involved. I was almost killed in a police chase and for two years it put my family at risk. I say shoot any fleeing person with a gun and screw you keep your punk ass kid home at night.
11/1/2009 - taser

Posted By: doe (oden) | Hide
break law + run = taser ... it's simple!
11/1/2009 - Taser better than mace

Posted By: John Law (Charlevoix) | Hide
What people seem to forget is the only options law enforcement had before the taser came around. Police had to either use physical force, putting themselves at great risk for injury, or spray people with chemical spray "mace" to stop people who are resisting arrest in some manner. ASide from the safety issue for the police, mace caused far more deaths and problems than the taser ever will!
11/1/2009 - TASER

Posted By: Rick (Petoskey) | Hide
What if they would not have caught the teen and she would have gotten hurt after being chased? Some of you people that don't like the police would have blamed them for that too. With the vest that the police wear and all the equipment it's possible that they may not have been able to catch the teen wearing athletic shoes. Some of the police bashers would understand this though because they haven't had to carry anything for awhile other then their check that comes in the mail.
11/1/2009 - Taser

Posted By: tt (Gaylord,) | Hide
I would hope that if my teen were drunk driving that she would be tazered rather than kill herself or someone else, and spend a little time in jail. Life is about consequences for choices and actions
11/1/2009 - Thank you for a job well done

Posted By: Ben (TC) | Hide
Children need to be taught to respect authority. Do you ati-cop morons think the officers were clairvoyant? when the Officer Tased the subject, they didnt know age, whether the person was armed, or possibly if they were male or female. they made the right decision that was safest for them and the general public, not to mention the stupid girl that ran. I am sick and tired of these young adults and teens that have no respect for other people or there property. Its time for society to quit condoning behavior like this. THANK YOU to all of the law enforcement officers that risk there lives to protect the general public. It makes me sad to think that my wife is in the Air Force fighting for the freedom of some of you that would even question the actions of those officers. obey the law, and Obey a direct order from an officer, or suffer the consequences. That girl could have run out in traffic and been killed, they did the best thing for everyone involved. the only people that are anti police are the ones that cant obey the law and be productive members of society. those officers may well save your life someday, without questioning who you are or whether or not you like them.
10/31/2009 - Wendi, mad in buckley, janet, dorothy, t

Posted By: Lindsay (Cadillac) | Hide
Wendi -Why do you assume that the police are male? Could have been female. Also, if you run, you are either going to get tackled or tased. I think they would do far more damage if they tackled. Mad- If your daughter was drunk and ran from the cops, she deserves to be tazed. Janet- Where are they going to get the money from? And even if they come up with programs, do you honestly think they will help? The parents that don't care enough, aren't gonna want to take the time, nor do they have the time, to be in such programs. Cut the police force? It already has been cut on so many levels. Why not tax alcohol and cigarettes more? That way a lot of people will be paying for their own programming! :) Dorothy- By running, that is putting up a fight. If she ran she was at fault. Not her driving, but her fleeing the police cause she knew she was in the wrong. Running b/c you are scared isn't the normal human response. Being scared and running is the normal response to idiot 17 y/o that knows they are in the wrong and drunk. If I was the passenger in the car, I wouldn't run. Gar-en-teed! Theresa- 17 is a child these days. They can be tried as an adult. and if she is drinking, then she must dang well think she is an adult. So why not treat her like one?! Nancy- I agree, parents should correct their children. Do they? Not always. And where they don't and then their child runs from the law, the young adults pay. The cops scared them? How so? They chased them all over the city and tried to stop them? The girl is 17, how do you know she weighed 80 lbs? Could have weighed 120 or even 170. How do you know she looked like she was a teenager? She could have looked 20! Maybe they though she was running cause she had a warrant, or drugs, or a gun?! What if a 80 lb 17 y/o "child" has a gun, they shouldn't taser them? You said for any reason. Mike- How are cops supposed to know she wasn't hopped up on drugs? How are they supposed to know that she doesn't have a gun? How are they supposed to know she is 17? All they know is someone is running on them and it is a girl. The best way to get her to stop besides tackling her to the ground (which would reap more butt chewing) would be tasering. And for the final person who is the shall not be named from Evart- What if the circumstance was a gun? How about a knife? How about a younger child in their arms and they are about to harm them? No matter what, they shouldn't use any force to stop them, right? I am glad these men and women did this. They saved a life from being in the path of a drunk driver. I am glad the girl got stopped, no matter the way they did it. She was an idiot. and she isn't a girl. She is a young woman.
10/31/2009 - World's Stupidist Criminals

Posted By: James (SS Marie) | Hide
Wow! Can't wait to see THIS taser episode on WORLD'S STUPIDEST CRIMINALS!! Makes for GREAT TV!!
10/31/2009 - Child??

Posted By: Sammye (Wyoming) | Hide
If U don't want your 17 year old CHILD to be tasered, then teach them respect for the law and for other people. She broke the law when she was drinking at the age of 17. I am sure this was not her first spin with the beer bottle. She did not do as she was told to do and she ran. She deserved what she got. My question is where are the parents in all of this. I raised two boys, they were taught to respect the law, their elders and adults in general. I never encountered this type of problem with the boys. But, I stayed involved and knew where they were at at all times. We always want to trust our children, but U as the parent need to follow up and make sure that they can be trusted. This young gal got what she deserved. As sad as that is too say. With the hopes that she will learn a lesson from this. Job well done to the officers involved. 17 is not a child, she is just as dangerous as any adult. Can be just as mean and fight just as well. Thank goodness no injuries other then pride in this incident. Parents, wake up, U can't be your childs friend, U need to be the adult and know what and where your children are and what they are doing at all times!
10/31/2009 - taser

Posted By: james (farwell) | Hide
you all are mad because she was 17 how did the officer know she was 17 if you run from the police then you are not actinng like a good citizen and you all would not be thinking so good of them if they would have killed your child while drinking and driving
10/31/2009 - Child?

Posted By: Gina (EJ) | Hide
At 17 you can be tried as an adult so stop calling her a child. If she was silly enough to try to run away from the cops when she was clearly doing something wrong, then she got what she deserved. As for the person that knew this girl and said she wouldn't put up a fight, how are the police to know this? I'm just glad this all ended without anyone getting seriously injured or even killed.
10/31/2009 - Lets Hold Teens Accountable

Posted By: Juvie Teacher (Mt. Pleasant) | Hide
I am a teacher in a juvenile detention facilty, and I teach in an all girls classroom. I can tell you right now, that male or female the police did the right thing. There are some out of control kids in this state, it is time that people wake up and realize that we need to support law enforcement and be thankful that these kids are not out destorying property, hurting other people, or ending up dead. I totally agree that the parents need to hold kids accountable. I am sure neither of these girls are "bad" girls, but the law is the law. I wonder how people would react if the headline would have been, Police Officer Prevents Parents From Having To Make Funeral Arrangements.
10/31/2009 - And for you Theresa

Posted By: Matt () | Hide
Dont post a stupid comment! That 17 year old "child" that your talking about is probably a senior in high school and is old enough to go to jail! They WILL be held responsible. Another one of you who dont like cops...
10/31/2009 - Dorthy

Posted By: Matt () | Hide
Im sorry "Dorthy" but you are one of those parents (if your a parent) that makes their children into the little turds that they are today! Your saying it wasnt her fault that she ran? Are you kidding me? Its the natural instinct for people to run from police? What freekin planet do you come from? Im sorry, but you make no sense what-so-ever! Any "normal" person would know that YOU STOP WHEN A POLICE OFFICER STOPS YOU!!! Do not run. Also, if ANY child is scared of a police officer its because their parents are criminals and losers themselves. Thats all their kids have been brought up around is police being at their house and mommy and daddy going to jail. Boy, im glad im not on the other side of the fence with you guys.... If the cop would of fought with her and broke her arm then you people would still complain. Face it, you just dont like cops. I think it should be a crime to be ignorant like some of you.
10/31/2009 - Support police officer

Posted By: Linda (Traverse City) | Hide
Why was a 17 yr old girl (or boy) out drunk on a school night? Stopping the young drunk driver and taking them both into custody may have saved their lives. Children learn the consequence of their actions from their parents or from society when they get out on their own. Neither young person in the car showed any respect for authority. Fear of taking that consequence is not reason to feel sorry for her. Thank you TC Police for keeping our streets safe and doing so without anyone being seriously harmed.
10/31/2009 - to dorthy

Posted By: Joke? (Kaleve) | Hide
No the girl should be ashamed for what she did! She didn't want to stop, She rammed their patrol car! I hate it when people like you say oh they wouldn't have done this or that. Or NOT my child! But! What if someone had taken her life because they decided to get behind the wheel drunk? I'm sure you would have a different outlook then right?
10/31/2009 - To Evert

Posted By: to Evart (Kaleva) | Hide
She intentionally hit their car! She was resisting. Were they supposed to sit back & wait for her to plow them over? Maybe you should take a trip to the county morgue & see what drunk drivers do to others. No matter the age & gender this person could have killed them or maybe one of you family members on the road.
10/31/2009 - cop's ??

Posted By: Wendi (Morley) | Hide
well gee a young girl 2 guy cop's couldent arrest her thats sad
10/31/2009 - Tasered teen

Posted By: Concerned adult (Harrison) | Hide
Hmmm...I get drunk, get behind the wheel of a car, endanger untold numbers of people, law enforcement especially....guess I'll just get on Facebook and tell the world how "bad" the police treated my passenger/friend!! For all those moaning about cops tasering a child, I suppose the fact of what both "children" engaged in is OKAY with you huh???
10/31/2009 - hey dororthy

Posted By: tc (tc) | Hide
Perhaps your delinquent friend shouldn't have been drinking and driving around with a drunk. She wasn't a child she was a delinquent. I'm quite certain she got what she deserved. (except maybe a few more spankings when she was a child)
10/31/2009 - So what are you going to do?

Posted By: Julie (Harrison) | Hide
The Traverse area is full of caring, intelligent people. Seems to me that the community could harness all this energy and work together toward a solution... Everyone would benefit.
10/31/2009 - Wrong, Wrong, Wrong!!

Posted By: Mad (Buckley) | Hide
If you taser my 17 year old daughter I get to taser you back.
10/31/2009 - Hey you complainers

Posted By: Tibbaw (Petoskey) | Hide
I really hope you don't ever get the chance to raise children. You would obviously teach them the wrong things. Do the world a favor and DON'T REPRODUCE!
10/31/2009 - Great Job!

Posted By: Citzen (TC) | Hide
Great job officer for doing your job! Folks, it doesn't matter if someone is male or female, if they fight, they will suffer the consequences regardless of what they may be.
10/30/2009 - teen taser episode

Posted By: sue (benzie) | Hide
could we have some peace please...police..back off..parents..right on..take care of your family
10/30/2009 - taser duo

Posted By: janet (tc) | Hide
are you kidding me....leave the kids alone why not come up with programs to help family's help their children, instead of ruining their future...excuse me.. be nice to young people...they are our future...cut the police force in half..save our taxes
10/30/2009 - this is a joke

Posted By: dorthy (tc) | Hide
i know the girl who got tasered, and in my opinion she wouldnt have been able to put up any type of fight. this girl was in the passenger seat and it wasnt her fault. She started to run because she was scared, which is the normal human response. the cop could have just grabbed her arm if he was within distance of tasering her. I think the cop who did it should be ashamed.
10/30/2009 - sad-

Posted By: theresa (traverse city) | Hide
I think its sad that a police officer would taser a CHILD. That Is what this 17 year old female is. This was the only means to catch this fleeing teen? My gosh they are children!
10/30/2009 - Taser

Posted By: Sue (Beulah) | Hide
I am a female and I have been tased as I am in law enforcement. and do teach taser, you want to act like a idiot you get treated like one. why should we fight with you because you want to get drunk and ram our patrol car and put others lives in danger. Stop and think before you post..Anti Taser
10/30/2009 - male or female?

Posted By: Charlie (Traverse City) | Hide
Also, people are always saying that men and women deserve equal pay and equal rights. Well, she was a girl and many of you are saying its wrong to taser a girl. Would it have been okay if it was a 17 year old boy?? Im just confused about people!
10/30/2009 - taser

Posted By: nancy (tc) | Hide
i think its pathetic to taser an eighty pound child for any reason..if the police wouldnt scare the heck out of these teenagers maybe they wouldnt run...how about the idea of parents correcting their children
10/30/2009 - T C taser

Posted By: wannabe UPer (Zeeland) | Hide
cops did the right thing. gal or guy shouldn't matter. want a real public outcry, use a real gun.
10/30/2009 - Agree with Yooper and a few others

Posted By: Anon (BR Area) | Hide
Also the wife of a law enforcement officer, I agree that those of you who think that using a tazer is unnecessary force because this was a 17 year old girl might consider riding along for a night or two...I think you may just change your minds. And further, all of us are just happy that's all that happened. Circumstances and consequences could have been FAR worse.
10/30/2009 - training

Posted By: Agreed (barryton) | Hide
I believe the cops get tasered during training. My brother did. He said he would think twice about useing one on a person knowing how it felt. Assuming these officers themselves have been tased during training.... I am sure they used it because it was the right thing to do. Male or Female!
10/30/2009 - response to "taser"

Posted By: Matt () | Hide
All of you that have no idea about law enforcement need to keep your obsurd comments to yourself. Hey "taser dude" before tasers came about we just wrestled them to the ground and hoped they or us didnt get our arms broke. Using a taser is MUCH safer for everyone involved. Tough guy
10/30/2009 - TC Teen Tazered

Posted By: Sam (Atlanta) | Hide
This Young Lady deserves a Big Time Out! That is Totally Unacceptable Behavior!
10/30/2009 - unnecessary force or taser?

Posted By: () | Hide
i agree with the two previous posts. after a chase that was the best thing they could have done to stop her from fleeing. if there was a physical altercation we would probably be seeing another headline!
10/30/2009 - WOW

Posted By: (TC) | Hide
Not all officers are men and as a former officer females tend to have crazy strength, especially drunk or high.
10/30/2009 - zxc

Posted By: zxczs (xczx) | Hide
Cops tasering people is becoming an epidemic... just like the 80 yr old women to this 17 yr old girl.. the police use any excuse to taser someone.. Beware do not make a peep around the police because they will taser you.. one of these days they are going to taser a politicians son or daughter and then it will come to an end.
10/30/2009 - Teens

Posted By: Julie (Reed city) | Hide
I am the mother of two teenagers. If the police had to taser my child because they were drunk driving and endangering EVERY life on the road...I would feel glad they cared enough to stop them. Stop criticizing the police for protecting us. Thank God they are there to protect you and your family.
10/30/2009 - Taser

Posted By: Mike (West Branch) | Hide
What did the cops do with these 'hard' criminals before tasers? haed to believe they couldnt subdue a 17 year old female
10/30/2009 - tased teen

Posted By: kathy (sault) | Hide
our teens are out of control these days. Be thank ful a taser was all the girl had received! Children need discipline from their parents to help prevent these situations in the first place!
10/30/2009 - PWNT

Posted By: Anon (Traverse City) | Hide
lolololololol111111111
10/30/2009 - Reponse to "WOW"

Posted By: Paul (Traverse City) | Hide
So you would rather then wrestle her to the ground, adn subdue her physically possibly injuring her and the officers. How about blame the person who ran? Hmm....theres a thought....No matter what the circumstances?? Ok, she had a knife, she was going to shoot them? Still doesnt matter? They should just take it like "real men" absurd! Good job to the police officers in this situation. I feel safer because of them.
10/30/2009 - Wife of a Police Officer

Posted By: Yooper (UP) | Hide
Just remember when you NEED HELP they will be there NO MATTER WHAT! No matter if you think they are "REAL MEN" or not! They did what they had to do in a situation in which YOU were not there. I am the wife of a police officer and I wholeheartedly agree with their decisions during the situation. You would be suprised by what these police officers encounter on a daily/nightly basis and I agree that you should go on a ride along and see firsthand what goes on. And just keep in mind 17 years old or NOT they were endangering HUMAN lives with their actions!
10/30/2009 - Are you serious?

Posted By: To WOW (Big Rapids) | Hide
You are criticizing police officers for tasering a 17 year old female? Maybe you should do a ride along and see how people fight. Some of the most vicious are small females. Not only that, but with everyone so sue happy, why risk doing something more when a taser handled the situation. Here is a hint. If you don't want to be tased, DON'T RUN and do what they say.
10/30/2009 - Even a girl

Posted By: citizen (tc) | Hide
needs to learn to behave. How do you know it wasn't a female cop? Would you have rather they shot her. How would you like them to make her quit resisting. Have you ever even seen a beligerant drunk?
10/30/2009 - WOW

Posted By: (Evart) | Hide
WOW!!! Unbelievable!!! I hope these police officers feel like REAL men now that they tasered a 17 yr. old GIRL!!! NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES..
10/30/2009 - And on a School night too.

Posted By: Andy (Cheboygan) | Hide
Friday morning? Where are the parents?

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