Ruling Allowing TASER For DNA Collection Could be Country's First
06.05.09 |
A ruling by a Niagara County, New York judge says it is legal for a police officer to use a TASER on a suspect to obtain a DNA sample. This is the first case in the U.S. to use TASER-aquired DNA as evidence.
A case in Wyoming notes the use of a TASER to force a suspect to open his hand, but no others that use the extracted DNA from a jolt. Judge Sara Sheldon Sperrazza added as long as it is not done, "maliciously, or to an excessive extent, or with resulting injury."
She decided a DNA sample obtained last September from 21-year-old Ryan S. Smith is legally valid and can be used at his trial in connection to a shooting and gas station robbery. He is charged with shooting a man in July 2006 after allegedly invading his ex-girlfriend's home and in a December 2006 robbery of a Niagara Falls gas station. His trial starts August 10th.
CATEGORIES
AUTHORS
ARCHIVE BY MONTH
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008