Authorities are facing allegations of excessive use of force after a sheriff’s deputy shot a streaker with an electric taser gun Sunday during the Demolition Derby.John Chase Rodgers, 21, of Jackson was shot in the back as he tried to elude authorities while running naked and carrying a fire extinguisher through the Teton County Fairgrounds. Hit with 50,000 volts of electricity, Rodgers flopped to the ground and was arrested for indecent exposure and interference with police.
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Many in the crowd reacted with outrage, booing vociferously, hurling cups of beer into the arena and chanting obscenities as police led the naked man away in handcuffs.
Jackson resident Zac Rosser, who photographed the incident, said it was "absolutely" an excessive use of force by police, and he was offended.
"I’d rather have my daughter see a naked man than somebody getting shot," Rosser said.
Teton County Sheriff Bob Zimmer defended the deputy’s use of the taser. Based on police reports, "I totally support the use of the taser last night," Zimmer said Monday.
Zimmer said the fire extinguisher Rodgers was carrying could have been used as a weapon. Deputy Stanyon said in his report that Rodgers looked like he was trying to remove the pin on the extinguisher during the chase, Zimmer said.
Also, Rodgers appeared as if he could have aimed the extinguisher at the officers when he stopped about 10 feet away and started turning around, Zimmer said.
(Added by me: Yeah. He might have pulled the same gag that was used on Hee Haw most every week during the show's entire damn run. Idiots.)
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It's a fire extinguisher, you fucking morons! About the only way it could be used as a weapon is if he clubbed you in your thick fucking skull with it! The way you reacted, Barney Fife Junior, it sounds like somebody already has.
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_wtf)
