Two Taser shocks, two guilty verdicts, now two reviews of police
Police took protester Ian Van Ornum into custody and charged him with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. An officer fired a Taser twice at Van Ornum in the process. ToolsBy Laura Rillos KVAL NewsEUGENE, Ore. -- The trial is over: a jury found protester Ian Van Ornum guilty of misdemeanor disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Now that day in May 2008 comes under a different kind of scrutiny, as not one but two investigations move forward on the actions of the police officers who arrested Van Ornum, using a hair hold and a Taser -- twice -- in the process. The 19-year-old University of Oregon student's trial ended Thursday after three days of testimony and arguments, including footage captured by a camera mounted on the Eugene Police Department Taser. The footage was shown at trial. The Eugene Police Department plans to investigate the actions of the officers that day. So does interim police auditor Dawn Reynolds. Reynolds told KVAL News her office will retain Joyce Naffzier, an investigator with experience doing the legwork on death penalty cases. Naffzier will be able to review testimony from Van Ornum's trial alleging police misconduct and conduct interviews with several witnesses. Reynolds said the investigation is separate from the police department's review, but the investigators will work closely together. KVAL News asked Reynolds if she would investigate all three police officers who responded that day. She said she could not comment. The police investigator and the auditor will give their recommendations to the police chief to make the final decision, but then a civilian review board will review the case so they can make their own recommendation or even call for another investigation. |
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