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| KY 3 News’ Sara Sheffield reports on an injured teen from Ozark, Missouri who was tasered up to 19 times by police. Passing motorists called Ozark police out of concern for the teen as he walked along the busy overpass. When the police arrived, the young man was lying on the shoulder of the highway directly underneath the 30 foot high overpass with a broken back and foot. Doctors believe 16-year-old Mace Hutchinson broke his back and heel after falling, as his injuries are consistent with such a fall. The boy’s family does not understand why police would have tasered the the teen 19 times after he was so seriously injured. The teen’s father said that the use of the taser caused Mace to develop an elevated white blood cell count, leading to a fever that delayed the young man’s otherwise immediate surgery by two days. Ozark Police Capt. Thomas Rousset attempted to explain why the taser was used: “He refused to comply with the officers and so the officers had to deploy their Tasers in order to subdue him. He is making incoherent statements; he’s also making statements such as, ‘Shoot cops, kill cops,’ things like that. So there was cause for concern to the officers.” Ozark police say that while there remains unanswered questions in the case, the reason for the use of the Taser is not one of them. This video is from KY3 News, broadcast July 24, 2008. |
Ozark City Police Department
201 E Brick St, Ozark - (417) 581-6600
OZARK, Mo. — A family from Branson wants answers about what happened to their son that left him hospitalized. Early Saturday morning, police found Mace Hutchinson, 16, underneath the Highway F overpass over U.S. 65. Mace ended up in intensive care at a hospital. His parents believe the actions of Ozark police officers contributed to his injuries and slowed doctors’ abilities to speed his recovery.
“We called the police. My wife was afraid he was going to get ran over or hit,” said witness Doug Messersmith.
Messersmith and his wife were the last known people to see 16-year-old boy walking, shortly before their phone call to 911.
“He looked a little agitated but, other than that, he didn’t look to be falling down drunk or anything like that,” he said.
By the time officers arrived, the teen was off the 30-foot overpass, lying on the shoulder below along U.S. 65, with no good explanation as to how he got there.
“According to the doctors, all injuries are consistent with a fall,” said his aunt, Samantha.
Mace’s dad believes it was just that, a fall, not a jump. The question is why.
“They tested his system. He was clean of drugs and alcohol. We don’t know why unless just being in shock and the whole thing in itself caused him to forget everything,” said Hutchinson.
His aunt says he is undergoing major surgery for a broken back and broken heel. While he was lying on the ground, she wonders why Ozark police used an electric stun gun on him up to 19 times.
“I’m not an officer, but i don’t see the reason for ‘Tasering’ somebody laying there with a broken back. I don’t consider that a threat,”
His dad says the use of the stun gun delayed what would have been immediate surgery by two days.
“The ‘Tasering’ increased his white blood cell count and caused him to have a temperature so they could not go into the operation.”
“He refused to comply with the officers and so the officers had to deploy their Tasers in order to subdue him. He is making incoherent statements; he’s also making statements such as, ‘Shoot cops, kill cops,’ things like that. So there was cause for concern to the officers,” said Ozark Police Capt. Thomas Rousset.
Police say although there are several unanswered questions; the reason for the use of a stun gun is not one of them.
“It’s a big concern for the officers to keep this guy out of traffic, to keep him from getting hurt,” said Rousset.
Mace was still in intensive care on Wednesday night, listed in fair condition. He was scheduled for surgery again on Thursday. The family, along with the Ozark Police Department, hopes someone will see this report and come forward with some information. You can call (417) 699-4789 with information or call the Ozark Police Department.
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Just to let you know, the boy (17 year old) has now been arrested for an attemted armed robbery and a drive by shooting in Branson, Mo. Anyone can check this by going to KY3 or KOLR 10 websites to confirm this. Further more what people see or read on the interent or any other news sources, don’t get the whole story. It is amazing what people will type or say when they really don’t know anything. Everyone have a nice day………
@GoodTimes, He committed a crime. He gets punished. That does not excuse the public servants that tortured him. Surely you understand this point.
Ozark police cleared in Taser use incident
Wednesday, October 29, 2008 | 1:10 p.m. CDT
BY The Associated Press
OZARK - Several Ozark police officers have been cleared in the July 18 use of a Taser on a teenager after he allegedly jumped from a highway overpass.
A report released Tuesday said witnesses told state Highway Patrol investigators that Mace Hutchinson had been at a party where alcohol and drugs were being consumed prior to the incident.
A friend of Hutchinson’s told troopers that Hutchinson had consumed LSD, a hallucinogen. The report said that Hutchinson suffered a bad reaction to the drug and jumped from a moving vehicle near the overpass at U.S. 65 in Christian County.
He fled but later returned and jumped from the overpass onto the highway.
The report says two Ozark officers used a Taser on Hutchinson nine times each after the youth failed to heed their order to stay down and place his hands behind his back.
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