Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Gene Kennedy reporting A Utah Highway Patrol trooper is back on duty after some "time off" for firing a Taser at a citizen who refused to sign a speeding ticket. The Utah highway patrol says he's completed a course in verbal communication and conflict resolution, skills UHP says could have made a difference in this situation.
Since we broadcast this latest update this afternoon, our KSL comment board has lit up. The story has generated 230 comments--some favoring the trooper, others supporting the driver, Jared Massey. No matter what side you're on, this is a story a lot of people are still talking about.
The dashcam video captured international attention on YouTube. To date, it's received more than 2 millions views. It shows Trooper Jon Gardner using a Taser on Jared Massey after Massey refused to sign a speeding ticket.
At that point, the trooper could have told Massey 'you're under arrest'. Or he could have cited him for the refusal, essentially letting him go with two tickets.
Jeff Nigbur, with the UHP, said, "There was a lack of communication, and it could have turned out a different way. However, the use of the Taser was reasonable in the circumstances that he was in."
Those circumstances came about when Massey didn't obey Trooper Gardner's commands. Massey walked away and had the Taser fired at him. After the video hit YouTube, the trooper received online death threats. So UHP put Gardner on paid leave, not for misconduct, but for his own protection.
The highway patrol investigated the threats and felt Gardner could safely return to work. In the midst of it all, UHP called a press conference, saying even though the trooper could have communicated better, the use of the Taser was justified.
Now, with Gardner back on the streets, the public is once again reacting. Among the comments on KSL.com is one saying"Gardner proved to be completely unprofessional in how he dealt with this. I thought he should lose his job."
But others support the trooper. Another commenter said, "The cop told the guy to stop walking away, and the man was belligerent."
UHP has an ongoing internal investigation over this. Even though Gardner's back to work, he could get everything from verbal council to termination.
As for Massey, he ended up with a ticket for $107 for speeding in a construction zone. He had no idea the trooper was back to work until it came out in the press. Massey was unavailable for comment.
