Chicago Police Taser 82 Year Old Woman

A police officer tasered an 82 year old woman, the officer claims that she was swinging with a hammer, when they arrived at her residence. Chicago Police department is investigating the incident.

The officials with the city’s Department of Aging went to Lillian Fletcher’s home on October 29 to make a welfare check and found Fletcher in a window swinging a hammer. So, they called the police and reported it. The officers arrived and saw her with a hammer, and one of them tried to subdue Fletcher and used a Taser on her. Lillian Fletcher was rushed to the hospital soon after. She is released now from the hospital and is back at home. Fletcher told the media on Tuesday that officers pushed their way into her home and shocked her. She sounded confused during the telephone interview with the press. Her granddaughter Traci Taylor, said she is suffering from schizophrenia and dementia. She said her grandmother gets easily confused.

I just don't think they should be Tasing 82-year-old women. That's ridiculous,''

Chicago's Police Department is investigating an officer's use of a Taser and whether he violated the department policy on the use of stun guns. The tasers use compressed nitrogen to fire two barbed darts and delivers a 50,000 volt shock to immobilize people. The human rights group Amnesty International USA has voiced concerns that police departments are using Tasers more than necessary and use even for less dangerous situations . Taser use by police drew national attention recently when police stunned and arrested a University of Florida student after his fervent, videotaped outburst at an event with Sen. John Kerry in September. Why would anyone want to use a taser on 82 year old woman and shock her with 50,000 volts, it is mind boggling that some of the police force will use Tasers like a toy gun.