The former officer now faces four years in prison for Violating the teen's constitutional rights.
Police dashcam video unsealed Monday by a federal judge in Missouri shows a deeply disturbing encounter Missouri Between a former cop who, During a routine traffic stop, tasered, Dragged and callously dropped to teenage driver face first onto the pavement. The officer's actions Caused During the arrest the teen to suffer brain damage.
Former Officer Timothy Runnels was last week Sentenced to four years in prison over the September 2014 incident. The video above shows Runnels approaching a pulled-over vehicle being driven by Bryce Masters, then a 17, WHO was on his way to play video games with a friend.
"I have not done anything, officer," Masters says as Runnels Attempts to forcibly remove the teen from His car. Refusing Masters is Heard His multiple orders to exit vehicle.
Runnels tells Masters he's under arrest, but does not Explain why. Eventually, Runnels says, "F ** k it," and His stun gun discharges on Masters, striking the teen near His heart.
As Masters slowly slumps out of the driver's seat, Runnels grabs the teen's cellphone - Which I was using to record the incident - and flings it away. The teen then a lies facedown on the ground, Where Eventually Runnels places him in handcuffs. , According to court records, Runnels HAD His Taser deployed for 20 seconds acerca During the incident - the equivalent of four discharges of the nonlethal weapon.
Runnels drags then a Masters' limp body to the side of the road, Where I first drops Masters face onto the ground. His hands cuffed behind With His back and unable to break His fall, Masters lands on the pavement with a horrifying thud.
Police originally Runnels Said That stopped the car Because I Believed the license plate was linked to an outstanding arrest warrant . Masters' Their parents Argued That neither are, nor Their car, Which was Properly registered to the parents, Had any warrants connected to them. Later Runnels Also Said That I smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle as part of His justification for Masters Placing under arrest. I did find a small amount of pot on Masters When I searched His pockets.
Shortly after the incident Took place, Independence Police Maj. Paul Thurman Said the officer's use of stun gun was His Within department policy. But contradicting witness and police accounts of the incident surfaced and the FBI and US Department of Justice investigations into the case Launched. The DOJ then a case before Took the federal grand jury last year and the panel Runnels indicted on counts of excessive force and obstruction of justice, over Allegations That I'd made a false report and provided false statements to Investigators.
There Were no charges for Runnels Against His stun gun use - , Although it was the effects of the Taser That Caused Masters to go into cardiac arrest, depriving His brain of oxygen for up to eight minutes and RESULTING in brain damage, the intercept Reported . Instead, feds Argued That it was Runnels' deliberate drop of the teen while I was restrained and not posing a threat to others That violated His Constitutional Rights.
In September, Runnels pleaded guilty to Violating Masters' rights , and last week, a federal judge him Sentenced to four years in prison . Runnels, WHO remains free on bond, must surrender to federal prison by August.
"The defendant abused as His authority to law enforcement officer by depriving a minor of His constitutional rights and Causing bodily harm," Civil Rights Division DOJ Said Assistant Attorney General acting deputy Vanita Gupta in a statement last week was Sentenced When Runnels. "While the majority of law enforcement Safeguards Our Communities With fidelity, the department will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute officers violate WHO Their oath by using excessive force."
The dangers of electronic monitoring weapons, like Tasers and other stun guns, Have Been Widely Studied by law enforcement oversight groups. In 2011, the Police Executive Research Forum, a nonprofit policy and research organization, the Justice Department partnered With to craft new guidelines on Their use. Their report cautions Specifically Against discharging stun guns for extended periods of time.
"Officers must be trained to Understand That Repeated applications and continuous cycling of ECWS May Increase the risk of death or serious injury and Should be avoided," the report reads.
During a hearing last month, Masters Described how the brain damage've Suffered Continues to Affect His sleep and memory.
"People tell me I'm different," Masters Said . "I feel different. I get in the car to go somewhere and Then I'll forget where i was going. I've missed job interviews because i forgot them. "
Runnels apologized to Masters' family During That same hearing, saying I was "deeply remorseful."
"At no point did I intend to hurt him," Runnels Said. "But I did."
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