A man in Nashville was shocked with a Taser multiple times and was not stopped by police.
The suspect, Ronnie Irby, was an employee of a Krystal fast food restaurant until he was caught on camera allegedly stealing money from his employer.
Police were called; they watched the surveillance video and approached the man.
Police asked Irby, who was in the parking lot of the restaurant, to fall to the ground a number of times.
However, he refused the officers’ demands, police said.
Police drew their Tasers and activated the camera on the device. An officer then fired a Taser probe at Irby, who is 6 feet 1 inch and weighs 300 pounds, police said.
The Taser temporarily stunned him, but then Irby got up as if nothing had happened, police said.
A second Taser was fired by another officer, but Irby removed the probes and continued to evade police, police said.
After a third Taser shock, there was still no effect, police said.
Three shots may seem like a lot, but Metro police say officers can decide the number of times a non-compliant suspect is shocked.
“You want to use the minimum number of Taser bursts necessary to affect an arrest,” said police spokesman Don Aaron.
Irby eventually walked inside the restaurant and the situation was quelled.
“Thankfully talking and diplomacy worked, and the officers did not have to go hands-on. They did not want to have to fight Mr. Irby,” said Aaron.
There has been no shortage of controversy in Nashville when it comes to police using Tasers, but Metro police and other departments across the country contend that it is a last resort to prevent a hands-on confrontation.
But after seeing the video, some are questioning if it is as effective as some believe, and wonder if a Taser can keep an officer safe.
“Forty-four times this year, the mere sight of the Taser by a suspect has resulted in the suspects’ compliance with police officer commands,” said Aaron.
Still, the Taser has been controversial. The police department took them away from officers a few years ago because a man died from excited delirium after being shocked with a Taser.
Metro started using them again last year because the department believes the benefits outweigh the risks.