BLM co-founder Patrisse Cullors' cousin was tasered SIX times by offices before ... trends now
BLM co-founder Patrisse Cullors' cousin was tasered six times in 42 seconds as other officers tried to pin and handcuff him on a California street as he yelled, 'help me please,' before he died in the hospital hours later.
Officers from the Los Angeles Police Departments discharged the taser multiple times on Keenan Darnell Anderson, 31, after he began acting erratically when he attempted to flee from police and resist arrest after a 'felony hit-and-run,' car crash on January 3.
He was transported to a hospital where he suffered from a medical episode and died four-and-a-half hours later. His cause of death has not be established but, a preliminary toxicology report found cocaine metabolite and cannabinoids in his system.
Anderson's death has raised concerns by Mayor Karen Bass, and a number of community activist on whether the officers tactics were too excessive. And, now the LAPD's actions are the subject of an internal investigation.
LAPD Chief Michel Moore said data from the Taser weapon showed there were six separate activations over 42 seconds. He said the first two [were] in the probe mode. We believe the darts weren't effective. Then four activations over 33 seconds' in the stun mode in which the pulse was applied directly to the skin, The Los Angeles Times reported.
BLM co-founder Patrisse Cullors' cousin (pictured) was tasered six times in 42 seconds as other officers tried to pin and handcuff him on a California street as he yelled, 'help me please,' before he died in the hospital hours later
In a probe mode, darts are fired from the taser into the individual which causes neuromuscular disruption. This action will put the person in an uncontrolled fall which leads to a secondary impact when they hit the floor, or ground.
After the incident, the LAPD released edited bodycam video of the incident showing viewers the events that led up to the English teacher's arrest.
Community leaders in Los Angeles held a rally calling for policy change and justice for Anderson in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
'There has to be a policy around lasers because less lethal doesn't mean non-lethal,' BLMLA co-founder Melina Abdullah said.
'We also have to stop the character assassination that happens with this edited narrative of this release of this bodycam footage. We want the unedited footage now!'
Many law enforcement experts who reviewed the videos claimed the repeated force used by officers from the LAPD appeared 'excessive' and 'haphazard' given Anderson's actions, the news outlet reported.
Ed Obayashi, a Northern California deputy and a top state advisor on police tactics told the Los Angeles Times that 'it is going to be hard to convince any judge that these officers were using reasonable force.'
'From the visual aspect, it looks like he is not fighting back; he is not threatening the officers. He is saying I am not resisting ... and what could be considered resisting is an automatic reflex of the body to the pain application from the Taser,' he said.
LAPD Police Captain III and Commanding Officer of the Media Relations Division spoke during the critical incident community briefing providing details about the arrest of Anderson, classified as an in-custody death. She also and stated the Force Investigation Division will conduct an investigation.
According to officials, the January 3 incident began around 3:38pm when a West Traffic Division motor officer was flagged down for a traffic collision in the area of Venice Boulevard and Lincoln Boulevard in Pacific Area.
Muniz said the officer observed a male, who was later identified as Keenan Anderson, running in the middle of the street and exhibiting erratic behavior.
LAPD Police Captain III and PIO Kelly Muniz (pictured) speaks during the critical incident community briefing on January 3
Several citizens involved in the traffic collision motioned to Anderson, indicating that he caused the accident.
The officer contacted
