3 Gwinnett cops resign after taser incedient at waffle house

[Dan2004]

3 Gwinnett Officers Resign After Taser Incident At Waffle House

Posted: 9:36 pm EDT June 18, 2009Updated: 5:39 pm EDT June 19, 2009
LOGANVILLE, Ga. -- Channel 2 Action News reporter Pam Martin has obtained surveillance video of a stun gun incident involving a Gwinnett County police officer at a Loganville Waffle House.

Danny Wilson, a Waffle House employee, alleges that Officer Gary Miles Jr. came into the restaurant while on duty and stunned him with a Taser without provocation. Wilson said Miles was a regular at the restaurant and had taunted and intimidated him in the past.

SLIDESHOW: 3 Gwinnett Officers Resign After Waffle House Tasing Incident (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:popUp%28%27/slideshow/news/19803788/detail.html%27,%27width=1024,height=820,top=0,left=0,scrollbars%27%29;)
SLIDESHOW: Waffle House Surveillance Pics (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:popUp%28%27/slideshow/news/19804096/detail.html%27,%27width=1024,height=820,top=0,left=0,scrollbars%27%29;)

Miles, who resigned from the Police Department this week after six years on the force, later surrendered to investigators. Gwinnett police said an internal investigation revealed Miles used a Taser on Wilson without provocation.

Two additional officers were identified as being present during the Taser incident. Sergeants Joey T. Parkerson, 39, and 41-year-old Christopher T. Parry both resigned following an administrative investigation. Parkerson was a 13-year veteran of the force and Parry was a 14-year veteran.

Parkerson can be seen in the surveillance video, although he did not shoot Wilson with the Taser.

The incident happened Feb. 16 at the Waffle House in the 2700 block of Loganville Highway, police said. The department launched an investigation after its internal affairs unit received information about possible criminal conduct.

http://www.wsbtv.com/sh/images/ibs_icon/cox/video.gifPAM MARTIN: 3 Gwinnett Officers Resign After Waffle House Tasing Incident (http://www.wsbtv.com/video/19804542/index.html)

Mike Puglise, an attorney representing Wilson, said it took him until the end of May to get surveillance video from the Waffle House and later filed a notice of intent to sue.

Authorities said the investigation revealed enough probable cause to arrest Miles.

"We are disappointed by the incident and this is not a reflection of our training," said a representative for the Gwinnett Police Department.

Miles has been charged with one count of battery and one count of violation of oath of office. He was booked at the Gwinnett County Detention Center and later released on $8,100 bond.

Martin visited Miles’ home for a comment, but could not reach him.http://www.wsbtv.com/news/19795724/detail.html

..........:|

[Blue_0]

What a stupid way to destroy 3 careers.

-- Bluelight

[BlackJack22]

Tasers are a lazy cops best friend. Dont have to use their brain to out think the suspect or have to wrestle them.Just pop the suspect with a taser and cuff em and stuff em.

[Dominique]

Tasers are a lazy cops best friend. Dont have to use their brain to out think the suspect or have to wrestle them.Just pop the suspect with a taser and cuff em and stuff em.

I'm sure this comment is backed up by years of actual law enforcement experience. :roll:

[BlackJack22]

I'm sure this comment is backed up by years of actual law enforcement experience. :roll:
Backed up by being a son of a n.c. state trooper. My dad thinks they are being over used. Theres situations where law enforcement can deflate the situation by other means. Now these days when somthing dont go their way, the first thing they grab is their taser.Use your brain.

[LongShot]

Backed up by being a son of a n.c. state trooper. My dad thinks they are being over used. Theres situations where law enforcement can deflate the situation by other means. Now these days when somthing dont go their way, the first thing they grab is their taser.Use your brain.


If the Taser is an approved part of a use of force continuum, and all levels of force leading up to the Taser have been attempted and failed, then the use of a Taser is completely reasonable. Many officers can thank the Taser for keeping them from having to use lethal force....as can the criminals they didn't have to shoot.

Furthermore, the same controversy existing around Taser's is similar to that around pepper spray...which after a decade went away and pepper spray became a publicly accepted tool.

Im not defending the actions of these officers, no reasonable person would, however their actions are only one example of an improper deployment of a Taser when there are 99.999999999999% more situations where the Taser was deployed correctly to effect and arrest, and served to diffuse a situation that may have lead to lethal force and/or and officer injury had the officer not been carrying a Taser.

Some officers may misuse their Taser, unfortunate and unacceptable, but these occurrences do not warrant the removal of a life saving tool wholesale.

Finally, your father was the officer, not you, so your expertise via his experiences is somewhat moot.

[Dominique]

Finally, your father was the officer, not you, so your expertise via his experiences is somewhat moot.

And the same goes for all of the "military experts" who's father, uncle, brother, etc. is in the military, and not them.

[Cstafford]

The **** that goes down at Waffle House...

[LongShot]

The **** that goes down at Waffle House...


Only in Georgia though....first Kid Rock, now this.....oh, and the waffle house guy that got the homeless guy to drink drain cleaner....

[BlackJack22]

And the same goes for all of the "military experts" who's father, uncle, brother, etc. is in the military, and not them.
LOL , I was getting ready to ask him what department he works for.

[IraGlacialis]

The **** that goes down at Waffle House...
Good times aint it?

5 years back, my scout troop and I were at a Waffle House around 3 AM (we were on a way back home from a midnight ski trip).
During that time, there was a middle-aged woman, who was obviously hammered, hitting on one of the guys. When it came time for her to leave, she flashed all of us.
...
Things that can't be unseen.

[okiebugg]

[QUOTE=LongShot;4246284]


Im not defending the actions of these officers, no reasonable person would, however their actions are only one example of an improper deployment of a Taser when there are 99.999999999999% more situations where the Taser was deployed correctly to effect and arrest, and served to diffuse a situation that may have lead to lethal force and/or and officer injury had the officer not been carrying a Taser.

Some officers may misuse their Taser, unfortunate and unacceptable, but these occurrences do not warrant the removal of a life saving tool wholesale.]

Methinks that your statistical analysis could be significantly off. I would like to see your source for the above numbers.

It is bad enough to have Nobama as your elected leader, in time we will see Law enforcement with near unlimited enforcement power:-*$

[Dominique]

[QUOTE=LongShot;4246284] in time we will see Law enforcement with near unlimited enforcement power:-*$

And how do you figure that? LE tends to have far more restrictions on their actions that the average citizen.

[BlackJack22]

Good times aint it?

5 years back, my scout troop and I were at a Waffle House around 3 AM (we were on a way back home from a midnight ski trip).
During that time, there was a middle-aged woman, who was obviously hammered, hitting on one of the guys. When it came time for her to leave, she flashed all of us.
...
Things that can't be unseen.
I remember about 8 yrs ago my x wife and were leaving a Dennys and seen a girl giving oral *** on a guy between two cars. She was hot too. I stood watching for a few seconds and my wife pulled me away, LOL.

[deagle]

those rotten apples give cops a bad name

[Dominique]

those rotten apples give cops a bad name

The VAST majority of law enforcement officers are out there doing exactly what they're supposed to be doing, but whenever a few do something dumb, illegal, or just flat out make a mistake, everyone suddenly jump in with their "expert" opinions, or their "bad cop" stories. While these guys definitely messed up, their actions shouldn't be taken as representative of of all law enforcement.

[el borracho]

I'd prefer banning Waffle Houses instead of tasers. No good ever happens there.

[Laconian]

Stupid, just plain stupid. But a clear demonstration that they aren't suited for LE work.

[Hollis]

Stupid, just plain stupid. But a clear demonstration that they aren't suited for LE work.


Well said, I wonder what they might be suited for. I would not not want them working near me, even if they were scrubbing pots.

[lag]

meh. i hate it when cops like this ruin the reputation of law enforcement units world wide. :|

[okiebugg]

[QUOTE=okiebugg;4247213]

And how do you figure that? LE tends to have far more restrictions on their actions that the average citizen.

I've been around a while.....A law abiding citizen, retired military. I have seen more and more evidence of piling on by the police. A simple infraction ie. speeding, lane change etc can be only the beginning of a financial nightmare if you fight it. Not excusing DUI< but it takes around $7000.00 to defend yourself.

As far as restrictions, only the recent heavy use of the video cam and video phone brings these criminals to light.

Any want of discussion by todays youth in a stop by police only brings handcuffs or worse.....pepper spray or taser under color of "law enforcement". I'm glad I no longer attract the glimpse of the police because of my age etc.

[el borracho]

A simple infraction ie. speeding, lane change etc can be only the beginning of a financial nightmare if you fight it. Not excusing DUI< but it takes around $7000.00 to defend yourself.


I suspect that the national tightening of the budget belt is affecting the way law enforcement handles more routine violations. Last year my state modified the seatbelt law so that LE can stop anyone they see not wearing a seatbelt and issue a fine. You can preach about personal safety all you want, but the odds of someone getting stopped and getting a ticket (i.e. instant state revenue) is much greater than the chance of someone getting into a terrible crash because they weren't wearing a seatbelt. Call me a libertarian but if I end up eating windshield because I'm too lazy to buckle up then I have no one else to blame.

But that rant is for a different thread.

[California Joe]

You guys need to tighten up on who you're quoting and who said what. This thread is a clusterf*ck. :)

[LongShot]

LOL , I was getting ready to ask him what department he works for.

The comment was almost certainly directed at you and those like you, hence the reference to "my brother/dad/uncle is a cop/ninja/uber d3l7a assassin/Charlton Heston etc. I find it hard to believe that you didn't know you were in that category.




Methinks that your statistical analysis could be significantly off. I would like to see your source for the above numbers.

It is bad enough to have Nobama as your elected leader, in time we will see Law enforcement with near unlimited enforcement power:-*$


Yes, im sorry, hyperbole was lost on you, but since you crave statistics, heres some helpful links for you.

http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/222769.pdf

http://www.sccsuperiorcourt.org/jury/GJreports/2005/Tasers-TrainingAndTracking.pdf

http://www.taser.com/research/statistics/Documents/Madison%20WI%20TASER%20Report%202%2005.pdf

Unfortunately, there is yet to be a centralized database for the cross country usage of Tasers, though im sure if you e-mailed Taser International they could provide you with something of the sort.

As for law enforcement having unlimited power....the obvious trend in policing restrictions says otherwise...or did I miss the creation of the Federal Gestapo?

@Dom....you put words in my mouth...it hurts.p-)

[Denisius]

If the Taser is an approved part of a use of force continuum, and all levels of force leading up to the Taser have been attempted and failed, then the use of a Taser is completely reasonable. Many officers can thank the Taser for keeping them from having to use lethal force....as can the criminals they didn't have to shoot.

Furthermore, the same controversy existing around Taser's is similar to that around pepper spray...which after a decade went away and pepper spray became a publicly accepted tool.

Im not defending the actions of these officers, no reasonable person would, however their actions are only one example of an improper deployment of a Taser when there are 99.999999999999% more situations where the Taser was deployed correctly to effect and arrest, and served to diffuse a situation that may have lead to lethal force and/or and officer injury had the officer not been carrying a Taser.

Some officers may misuse their Taser, unfortunate and unacceptable, but these occurrences do not warrant the removal of a life saving tool wholesale.

Finally, your father was the officer, not you, so your expertise via his experiences is somewhat moot.

It all sounds very nice in theory, but not in practice. There are numerous examples, just like the one shown above, that since tasers are a non-lethal weapon, police officers often feel encouraged to use it even when other options were not only possible, but even encouraged.

[LongShot]

It all sounds very nice in theory, but not in practice. There are numerous examples, just like the one shown above, that since tasers are a non-lethal weapon, police officers often feel encouraged to use it even when other options were not only possible, but even encouraged.


As to how officers "feel" Im curious how you know this. If you are inferring it from one source or another, sweet, way to speculate. As for "other options being encouraged" please elaborate.

[2495]

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=8ba_1246892244

Yep, them good old boys use that taser for all the right reasons all the time.....

This ones gonna lose his job for certain.

[okiebugg]

You guys need to tighten up on who you're quoting and who said what. This thread is a clusterf*ck. :)

CJ, you need to lighten up, I am not in need of tightening up. You are awfully opinionated and judgemental. Are you following me around for some particular reason? Seems that the last thread I got involved in you were calling me names. I will not stoop to your level. YOU SIR NEED A VALIUM:)

[Dan2004]

CJ, you need to lighten up, I am not in need of tightening up. You are awfully opinionated and judgemental. Are you following me around for some particular reason? Seems that the last thread I got involved in you were calling me names. I will not stoop to your level. YOU SIR NEED A VALIUM:)

Nah. This is Joe on valium. p-)

[California Joe]

CJ, you need to lighten up, I am not in need of tightening up. You are awfully opinionated and judgemental. Are you following me around for some particular reason? Seems that the last thread I got involved in you were calling me names. I will not stoop to your level. YOU SIR NEED A VALIUM:)

I wasn't speaking to you, it was a general observation. Go back and look through the thread knucklehead, almost every quote is quoted incorrectly by everyone.

[Policía Loco]

Backed up by being a son of a n.c. state trooper. My dad thinks they are being over used. Theres situations where law enforcement can deflate the situation by other means. Now these days when somthing dont go their way, the first thing they grab is their taser.Use your brain.

The NC Highway Patrol doesn't have the money to buy their troopers functional portable radios, much less tasers. And considering troopers don't venture farther than the fog line, they don't respond to the amount of actively violent calls that a police officer or deputy sheriff does.




I have seen more and more evidence of piling on by the police. A simple infraction ie. speeding, lane change etc can be only the beginning of a financial nightmare if you fight it. Not excusing DUI< but it takes around $7000.00 to defend yourself.



Way too many officers aren't always allowed to use their discretion. Don't blame the officer, blame the supervisors laying the groundwork for a false sense of accomplishment, enforcement, criminal deterrence, etc. by requiring officers to show themsleves being pro-active via numbers. Also blame the nature of being an accredited department.


Edit - On the article/video, I think every officer has worked alongside more than one officer thats a complete dumbass. It just sucks that it sometimes takes an incident like this to weed them out.

[Dominique]

I'm glad we've got so many highly trained LE personnel providing us with arm chair quarterback commentary, on exactly how LE officers are constantly abusing people with electronic stun devices. I'm sure with their many years of experience, they'll be on hand to re-write every agencies use of force policy so it meets their high standards, and on call to respond the next time something goes wrong and DT and OC spray just aren't cutting it. :roll:

If you're 1) not a trained LE officer, 2) who's familiar with specific agencies use of force policies, your best bet is to shut your pie hole, and quit spewing bad info.

[okiebugg]

I'm glad we've got so many highly trained LE personnel providing us with arm chair quarterback commentary, on exactly how LE officers are constantly abusing people with electronic stun devices. I'm sure with their many years of experience, they'll be on hand to re-write every agencies use of force policy so it meets their high standards, and on call to respond the next time something goes wrong and DT and OC spray just aren't cutting it. :roll:

If you're 1) not a trained LE officer, 2) who's familiar with specific agencies use of force policies, your best bet is to shut your pie hole, and quit spewing bad info.

Just as your avatar indicates, you must be LE or highly aggressive. Your Avatar, like your vehicle is usually an extension of the way you feel about your individual image. Not saying this is always the case, but more often than not

Never said 'all' LE personnel were abusing people with electronic devices. I'm just saying that there is no excuse for 'anyone' to be abused because some agressive cop decides to bypass the rules at his discretion. In most incidences, who is there to report it? Another cop?? Don't make me laugh. If a citizen isn't there to record these incidents, we would be none the wiser.

Like I said, I am old enough to stay under the radar of the locals simply because of my age, and I don't act agressively, nor break the law.

I do have respect for most LE. I don't have respect for those trying to leave a legacy

[Hollis]

Just as your avatar indicates, you must be LE or highly aggressive. Your Avatar, like your vehicle is usually an extension of the way you feel about your individual image. Not saying this is always the case, but more often than not



Nice to know we have a resident psychic here who can read avatars. What does mine say? Looking in my crystal ball, I see you typing, "A tye dye wearing hippy peacenik." When you get your crystal ball fixed, get back with us.

[okiebugg]

Nice to know we have a resident psychic here who can read avatars. What does mine say? Looking in my crystal ball, I see you typing, "A tye dye wearing hippy peacenik." When you get your crystal ball fixed, get back with us.

I don't have a crystal ball. Lots of life learning, book learning, and observation.

I cannot read your Avatar-just looks rather cerebral and proud

[Hollis]

I don't have a crystal ball. Lots of life learning, book learning, and observation.

I cannot read your Avatar-just looks rather cerebral and proud



Don't know about that, I just like his music. Maybe I will have the Ramones next, of just Joey R.


On the internet, who knows. People read all sort of stuff into the avatar or ??? I find them mostly to be wrong. Like the Greek Expression, I am not Greek, just kind of like the expression maybe for it's whimsical value.

[Dominique]

Just as your avatar indicates, you must be LE or highly aggressive. Your Avatar, like your vehicle is usually an extension of the way you feel about your individual image. Not saying this is always the case, but more often than not

Never said 'all' LE personnel were abusing people with electronic devices. I'm just saying that there is no excuse for 'anyone' to be abused because some agressive cop decides to bypass the rules at his discretion. In most incidences, who is there to report it? Another cop?? Don't make me laugh. If a citizen isn't there to record these incidents, we would be none the wiser.

Like I said, I am old enough to stay under the radar of the locals simply because of my age, and I don't act agressively, nor break the law.

I do have respect for most LE. I don't have respect for those trying to leave a legacy

Well I am LE and I do tend to be aggressive, when it's called for. And I never singled you out so I'm not sure why you're taking my post as an attack on you. As far as your comments go, if some feels they've been abused (and a lot of them do, even if there's no basis for it), they are more than free to file a complaint with the agency the person, or people responsible work for, the state attorney, or the US attorney. I'm not sure who you're used to dealing with, but I know our internal affairs guys investigate ALL complaints filed against anyone who works for us, and people ave been fired, arrested, and prosecuted.

[okiebugg]

Well I am LE and I do tend to be aggressive, when it's called for. And I never singled you out so I'm not sure why you're taking my post as an attack on you. As far as your comments go, if some feels they've been abused (and a lot of them do, even if there's no basis for it), they are more than free to file a complaint with the agency the person, or people responsible work for, the state attorney, or the US attorney. I'm not sure who you're used to dealing with, but I know our internal affairs guys investigate ALL complaints filed against anyone who works for us, and people ave been fired, arrested, and prosecuted.

I jus calls em as I seesum.

Unlike you? many are agressive with or without provocation. I have memories as a kid of being beat to a pulp in an elevator by two cops because I smarted off after making a quick lane change---not resisting. Yeah we complained, went to court, cop quit, moved and filed Bankruptcy. Took the easy way out.

I have no problem with agressive action against perps who are actually breaking the law.

[LongShot]

I jus calls em as I seesum.

Unlike you? many are agressive with or without provocation. I have memories as a kid of being beat to a pulp in an elevator by two cops because I smarted off after making a quick lane change---not resisting. Yeah we complained, went to court, cop quit, moved and filed Bankruptcy. Took the easy way out.

I have no problem with agressive action against perps who are actually breaking the law.


How many is "many" and how do you know this?

You went from a lane change to an elevator? Only one cop quit? What happened to the second?

Im not picking, just looking for elaboration/clarification...

[ohdannyboy]

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=8ba_1246892244



I have a question about this video. The officer seems not to care about the other person in the car. She/he could be a threat as far as he knows. Is this a normal procedure? Isn't it too dangerous?

[GtodeO]

the good thing is that theres 3 more openings!


cops have grown accostumed to the tasers and few use them for every occasion going overboard as soon as they see any resistance either small or big or even if is in their heads.
this has tarnished most cops reputation depicting them as brutal and savages thats why many people dont like them

[okiebugg]

How many is "many" and how do you know this?

You went from a lane change to an elevator? Only one cop quit? What happened to the second?

Im not picking, just looking for elaboration/clarification...


Lane change to being arrested and taken to Oklahoma City Jail because the officer was mad at his wife......this was later admitted in court..... and he apologized. It was too late for me, as I had a broken nose and stitches in the backs of my ears which he used to slam my head into his knee.

I'm off topic and I apologize

"many" is just used as a term for more that 1 that I know of.

[LongShot]

Lane change to being arrested and taken to Oklahoma City Jail because the officer was mad at his wife......this was later admitted in court..... and he apologized. It was too late for me, as I had a broken nose and stitches in the backs of my ears which he used to slam my head into his knee.

I'm off topic and I apologize

"many" is just used as a term for more that 1 that I know of.


Just wondering. Some people like to use "many" in a specifically vague way.