Taser Use Questioned After Berkeley Fare Evader Gets Zapped

SF Appeal reports that a a 35-year-old man was kissed with a BART cop's taser on June 22.

On Tuesday, an officer that BART would not name said he saw 35-year-old Jason Johnson leaving the downtown Berkeley station without paying. According to BART police Lt. Andy Alkire, the officer told Johnson to stop, but he continued to run up the stairs. The officer grabbed Johnson who responded with an "aggressive fighting stance" and looked like he had a large threatening object in his pocket, said Alkire. After several warnings, the officer proceeded to tase Johnson in the back, who collapsed and was handcuffed after a struggle.

Seems a bit much for fare evasion, yes? Well, maybe not. BART spokesman Linton Johnson defended the spark spanking, claiming that letting the cheap rapscallion go would have sent "a message to all suspects that they can put up a fight with officers, and we will have no law and order on the system anymore."

Then again.

But, then again.

Anyway, SF Bay Guardian's Tim Redmond argues that the Berkeley incident proves that cops don't need tasers. He explains: