Disturbing dashcam video released by a U.S. Federal judge Monday shows a Missouri police officer tasering a teenager for so long that he went into cardiac arrest and suffered brain damage.
Timothy Runnels, a 32-year-old former Independence, Mo., police officer tased then 17-year-old Bryce Masters in the chest for 23 seconds after a routine traffic stop.
The incident happened two years ago but Runnels was sentenced last week to four years in prison for violating Masters’ civil rights.
The video was used as evidence during Runnels trial.
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In the video, Runnels pulls Masters over in his grey Pontiac. He asks the teen to get out but doesn’t give a reason.
Runnels then removes Masters from his car.
“I haven’t done anything officer, I haven’t done anything officer. Am I under arrest?” Masters says repeatedly.
Masters resisted and Runnels then fires his stun gun, hitting the teen multiple times in the chest.
Masters went into cardiac arrest. His brain was deprived of oxygen for eight minutes. He slumped to the ground.
As the teen lies face down, Runnels places him in handcuffs before dragging his limp body to the side of road, dropping him face first onto the ground.
Masters says he is now facing a lifetime of recovery. The brain damage caused short-term memory loss. Masters has had to re-learn simple tasks like how to hold objects, draw shapes and walking without a limp.
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The police department said Runnels’ use of a stun gun was within police practice but the FBI eventually launched an investigation.
There were no charges laid against Runnels for his stun gun use although the court heard it was the effects of the taser that caused Masters to go into cardiac arrest.
Runnels’ crime, depriving a minor of his civil rights, occurred when he dropped the 17-year-old boy on his face.
Police say Masters was pulled over because of a warrant attached to the licence plate. Runnels also said he could smell marijuana in the car.