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Woman on Hwy. 101 subdued by officers
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The California Highway Patrol apprehended a woman who was apparently walking onto the southbound side of Highway 101 near downtown Ventura shortly before noon Sunday.
Three officers found the woman on the freeway near the Seaward Avenue exit and approached her, a dispatcher said.
The woman was slightly combative and had to be subdued with a Taser gun, the dispatcher said.
Officers had to shut down the highway for a short time.
No information on the woman's condition was available on Sunday evening.
Posted by opns on August 18, 2008 at 2 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My my, loony.
Posted by dcsfancy on August 18, 2008 at 6:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I drove by when there was two patrol cars . She looked like a person who has been on meth for a while. Skinny sunken in face. I don't see why she had to be tased as the officers were twice her size. I guess they wanted to have some fun and use their new toys out.
Posted by Ms_California on August 18, 2008 at 6:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why did they have to shut the highway down? Was she going that crazy?
Posted by lrgvanman on August 18, 2008 at 6:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Women Rescued From Freeway
Officers Use Taser To Subdue Woman In Traffic Lanes
By: KVTA News
2008-08-17
Ventura Police and CHP Officers rescued a woman who walked out into the traffic lanes of southbound 101 near downtown Ventura Sunday. The incident was reported at 11:50 AM on the southbound 101 just south of California Street. The woman had been sitting on the right shoulder guardrail when, for some unknown reason, she walked out in the middle of traffic, standing between the left and middle lanes of the freeway. Officers responded and shut down the freeway. At one point, one of them deployed a taser gun to subdue the woman so they could take her into custody. She was taken to the hospital to be checked out.
Posted by 805m0mma on August 18, 2008 at 6:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Geeze, the Star left out the some important details of the story!
Posted by thegreatpumpkin on August 18, 2008 at 7:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm sure the THREE Officers could have easily cleaned this ladys clock, but they reduce the risk of injury to themselves AND to the combative lady when they use the Taser. I did some research on these Tasers and found that Police Departments that carry them report up to an 82% decrease in injuries TO SUSPECTS! Not cops, suspects.
http://www.taser.com/Pages/le_overvie...
They make a "civilian" taser I was looking into for personal protection. It's totally legal in CA, and it's impressive.
Posted by twbeem on August 18, 2008 at 7:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
TheVeracious1 the police have to consider their own safety. Just because its three officers on one woman doesn't mean they have to pound her into submission. If she is being combative using a taser is a safe non lethal method for officer safety. With someone like that wrestling is not a good idea because officers have to think about anything dangerous like needles or knives that could injure the officers in a wrestling match. Plus if they advanced on her she could have ran causing a safety hazard on the freeway for everyone. I know they had the SB 101 but she could have ran to the NB side. The officers made the right decision in stopping her before she could hurt herself or anyone else.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on August 18, 2008 at 7:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't they sell tazers at Big 5? Thought I saw them there before???? Could be wrong.
Posted by Ms_California on August 18, 2008 at 8:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well reading the additional information, it makes sense now that they tased her and closed the fwy down. Glad no one was hurt.
Posted by ebrockway on August 18, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Heard it on the scanner at work. CHP called in Code 4 you could hear her yelling at them, and what she was yelling wasn't very nice. Sounded like that whacko lady calling 911 about wanting police to come kill her cat you hear on Mark and Brian!
Posted by Ms_California on August 18, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't tase me dude!
Posted by Equitable_Enforcer on August 18, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Some very well informed posts to this article.
The CHP handled the situation correctly. Their first concern was for the safety of the women. If she was on meth, she could have made it difficult for any number of officers to take her into custody. Whereas the purpose of a 9 mm is to disable instantly with a large loss of blood, not kill, there are documented instances where an entire clip was insufficient to stop a meth crazed suspect.
Posted by Ms_California on August 18, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
FINE! JR!
Posted by camarillomomma on August 18, 2008 at 10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You can tase me! LOL
Posted by camarillomomma on August 18, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I want one! your not too safe anywhere these days!
Posted by mandynathan on August 18, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You'd be surprised how strong even small people can be.
Posted by sslocal on August 18, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Equitable_Enforcer,
A 9mm will kill you just as dead as a 45 cal. will. Given the advances in bullet tech today you can just about bet on a 1 shot stop. Almost.
Most training programs tell you to aim for center of mass. Do not aim to wound as not only is the target smaller so your more likely to miss but wounding shots are not known to stop the bad guy.
Also, it is a magazine, not a clip. Magazines have moving parts, clips don't.
Posted by jill on August 18, 2008 at 1:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would hope that tasers would be used in lieu of firearms, but I really hope they don't start using them in every situation where the subject is being slightly difficult or not cooperating fully. I wasn't there, but I can't imagine they would need to do this to a woman ravaged by meth. That is wrong. The use of tasers should be watched and monitored very closely and misuse/abuse of tasers should be dealt with harshly.
Posted by caffeinefree on August 18, 2008 at 1:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
junior. Not like you not to have substance (meat). Lately you are hoping for the comments to your clever jokes and one hit wonders. Was hoping to see you bust out today with some good stuff so I could talk about you at lunch. Today lunch was boring!
Posted by Equitable_Enforcer on August 18, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sslocal ... old habits die hard as does using old terminology. At a recent range session, was reminded that contrary to common belief, the intent is now to cause immediate oarge scale loss of blood. Center mass is correct and, of course, even one shot will kill. Blood leaving the brain causes one to lose consciousness quickly ... hopefully. If on meth, one sometimes becomes almost super human. That is the point I was trying to make.
Posted by sslocal on August 18, 2008 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I understand EE.
Posted by sslocal on August 18, 2008 at 4:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Um, Pogmothoin, do I know you?
Posted by sparks240 on August 18, 2008 at 6:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A tweeker doing the fish dance on the freeway is just funny!
Posted by ironwoman on August 18, 2008 at 6:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
patticake- YOu are absolutely correct. A person under the influence is 10 times stronger than most. It is very difficult to gain compliance when they are resistive.
I don't know why the cops would even be questioned about using a taser....tasers have a better handle on combative persons without serious injury like a gun.
I am glad they got this woman down before she caused a serious accident and hurt innocent people.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on August 18, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sparks240 , Its not funny.....Meth is not just an addiction is much more. Its one of the hardest drugs to get off of. People do not realize the life that they will have once they start using. NOT all people that are addicted to meth are bad people, they just get caught up in the wrong crowd and are lost in another world. Try helping someone out instead of making fun of them. If it was your child, sister or Mom , you sure wouldn't be saying such a thing. I think everyone can be helped. First they have to want to. We should not just give up on people that have an addiction that they never suspected would happen. Pray for the lost.
Posted by capt_jack on August 18, 2008 at 7:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Where does it say she was taken to the hospital and not jail?
Posted by sparks240 on August 18, 2008 at 8:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"they just get caught up in the wrong crowd and are lost in another world" AnnaWhaat, Would you use that same argument for child molestors? If this woman is ill I feel sorry for her. If she is a tweeker, its her choices that put her in that situation.
Posted by sslocal on August 18, 2008 at 8:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I see what you did there Pog...
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define...
Posted by deepwater805 on August 19, 2008 at 3:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like a Pierpont meth-head.....
Posted by AnnaWhaat on August 19, 2008 at 7:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
sparks240,No not the same catagory since child molesters can not be helped. Proven fact.....
Sure people make a choice........but some never imagined how addicting this drug is. Same as smoking. How many made the choice to start and never had a clue it would be so hard to stop. See my point.
Posted by PackFan02 on August 19, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Man oh man.. You guys cracked me up with all your comments hahaha
Posted by ksvenn32 on August 19, 2008 at 4:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
AnnaWhaat - why can't child molester be helped?
Posted by julsthemom on August 19, 2008 at 6:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow...look at everyone critisizing the police for tasing...as if any of you were actually a witness. Would you want to take a chance at getting bit or worse. Give the police a break...their job is not an easy one and I for one consder the majority of them to be heros.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on August 20, 2008 at 6:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ksvenn32,Read up on things. Just as they say gay people stay that way.......its a sexual thing. Child molesters will always have that urge for young children. Thats my point.
Posted by ksvenn32 on August 21, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
AnnaWhaat - I understand & agree that it is a sexual thing & can't be erased completely, but just because they can't stop the urge doesn't mean they can't be "helped". Seems to me that a lot of people have the urge to do a lot of things but they are able to have self control. I just think that at least an effort should be made to help anyone and everyone. (THIS ISN'T SAYING I CONDONE CHILD MOLESTING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT!)
p.s. "read up on things" - no need to get nasty I was just trying to clarify your comment & I agree with you about this women's situation being extremely sad b/c drug additions are terrifying and horrible things for all people involved.
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