“Don’t tase my granny!”

This story seems a bit over the top, even for the police.

86-year-old Lona Varner, a disabled woman, was lying in bed connected to her breathing machine when El Reno (Oklahoma) police officers tasered her for taking “a more aggressive posture in her bed,” according to the police report.  When only one wire struck her in the first attempt, Varner was tasered again.

Varner’s grandson had used 911 to call for an EMT for his mother.  In response as many as ten El Reno police officers arrived and, when they were told by the elderly woman that they were not welcome, the adrenaline of the high-pressure situation apparently began pumping and the cops began acting like…  cops.

Lona Varner was also placed in a psychiatric ward at the direction of the El Reno police and was held there for six days.  Yeah, as if she was the crazy one.

Ms. Varner is suing the El Reno Police Department.  From the complaint, “As a result of the wrongful arrest and detention, the plaintiff Lona M. Varner suffered the unlawful restraint of her freedom, bodily injury, assault, battery, the trashing of her apartment, humiliation, loss of personal dignity, infliction of emotional distress and medical bills.”

I happen to agree with sidecarsally.com’s observation that “there is no legitimate reason to taser a bedridden 86-year-old woman. Ever. Unless you are just doing it for fun.”

Doing it for fun.