DA orders release of police report on Chinese student shocked by Taser
By Associated PressEUGENE, Ore. (AP) — The Lane County District Attorney's Office has ordered the release of police reports on an incident in which a Eugene officer used a stun gun to subdue a Chinese college student mistaken as a trespasser. The Register-Guard and the Eugene Weekly newspapers separately asked the District Attorney's Office to overturn a city decision to keep the reports secret until a misconduct investigation is finished. Eugene Police Chief Pete Kerns says he expects to release the reports Thursday, after the city attorney's office reviews them. Two weeks ago, Kerns held a news conference and wrote a guest opinion piece in The Register-Guard arguing that he could not share basic details about the case because the misconduct investigation was under way. City attorneys advised him that releasing any information would violate state personnel records law and the city's contract with the police officers' union. But the order written this week by Chief Deputy District Attorney Patty Perlow supports the newspapers' position that the city is improperly withholding the reports. The student, whose name has not been released, was confronted inside a townhouse Sept. 22 by Eugene officers who thought he and his roommate were trespassing. During the encounter, an officer used a Taser to subdue the student. Officers later discovered the student and his roommate had begun renting the place that day. Acting police Lt. Doug Mozan said previously that "an inability to communicate" with officers led to the students being detained. City officials said the misconduct investigation should be completed by year's end.
(Copyright 2009 The Associated Press) |
Upload directly from your mobile device. Learn howYouNews
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled.
Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
Stay Connected |
Connect with KVALViewer PollMost Popular
|
KVAL, 4575 Blanton Road,