Timothy Runnels, 32, previously pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of 17-year-old Bryce Masters. Thats what caused him to go into cardiac arrest. He would sleep for a bit, forget again, then look in the mirror. Then, to Runnels: Hes turning blue., Watching the video, Stacy was astounded. Hethen tases Bryce for 23 seconds, handcuffs him, drags the boys body behind the car, and deliberately drops him face first onto the asphalt road. Other sources, such as an informal list known as Truth Not Tasers, put the figure at nearly 1,000. Then he pulled him out of the car, handcuffed him, and drug him around the car. No one said anything about avoiding the chest, and this was five years after Taser International officially changed the target area and with an incident involving a local officers child providing a perfect example of what could happen. Bryce was carrying a small amount of marijuana in a baggie. Bryce let out a piercing scream. The jury returned its verdict Friday in U.S. District Court in Kansas City after a week-long trial in the lawsuit brought by Bryce Masters against the former officer, Timothy Runnels. As the video openswe seea gray Pontiac enter the frame, and Bryces dad, Matt, put his hand on his sons knee. The case status is Pending - Other Pending. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division, and U.S. Attorney Tammy Dickinson of the Western District of Missouri announced that former Independence, Missouri, Police Officer Timothy Runnels was sentenced to 4 years in prison for violating the constitutional rights of a minor who was in his custody. Independence, Missouri, is an aging suburb, the kind of place wealthy residents of Kansas City used to move to. His memory had improved a bit. In a final sentencing hearing on June 1, Runnels was sentenced to four years in federal prison. Mrs. Runnels had resided in Hudson most of her life. He knows there are manydeserving cases, especially involving minority victims, that never see the inside of a courtroom. Until that point, the Masters had no idea how long Bryce had actually been tased. So the record clearly supported a denial of qualified immunity.. Taser International Inc. headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona. 1. And I am., After almost 20 years as a cop, it had become easy for Matt to split the world into good guys and bad guys. Former Officer Timothy Runnels was sentenced last week to four years in prison over the September 2014 incident. Dozens of visitors, including many of Matts colleagues from Kansas City, descended on the hospital to offer support. I dont play games., Ive been tased a dozen times, Runnels said to Bryce. Do you think that Bryce is going to make it? heasked her. It was daylight outside, and in the distance ahead, they could see Bryces gray Pontiac driving along as Runnelss cruiser followed far behind. People were just shaking their heads, Stacy said. It was the Taser that almost killed Bryce. Drawing shapes, holding objects firmly in his hand, walking without a limp, hearing a story and trying to synopsize it back to the storyteller things that used to be second nature were now exhausting chores. The recent Tasering of then 17-year-old Bryce Masters by Missouri cop Timothy Runnels has sparked outrage in the community and around the world. Lack of training? Lack of training does not lead to intentional cruelty; lack of a functioning heart does. He was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading in 2015 to one count of deprivation of rights. Daily Kos moves in solidarity with the Black community. If thats my right, why would I let some cop try to take it away?, Matt felt betrayed. One barb lodged in his chest and another in his abdomen. Lexipol. Former Independence, Missouri, Police Officer Timothy Runnels will spend 48 months in jail for a 2014 taser incident that left a teen in a coma after pleading guilty on June 1 to federal charges he violated the constitutional rights of a minor while in custody.The US Department of Justice released dashcam video of the September 14, 2014, arrest of Bryce Masters, then 17 years old, on June 6 . But the information was not considered urgent enough to repeat annually.) Later Wednesday, Masters family issued a statement thanking investigators, prosecutors and medical personnel who treated Masters. A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Bryce didnt budge. Police said Morgan was belligerent and fired first, while Morgan said police started firing as soon as they saw his gun, and denied firing a shot, the report notes. But after his interaction with Runnels, his friendships faded as his classmates realized how emotionally unpredictable hed become. The spot where Bryce was pulled over is suburban and residential, a paved road next to a manicured lawn with a public sidewalk running through it. He told them a plea agreement had been finalized. It was unbearable for Matt. Mostly Bryce struggled because he couldnt rely on his own memory of the incident. Runnels may have been a bad cop, but if he hadnt been given a device that Taser International had assured him was extremely unlikely to kill, then he might not have been tempted to shock a teenager who simply wanted to know why he was being arrested. Matt had never seen that bulletin. President Obama signed into a law a small piece of our bill in December 2014. The video opened with a shot from the dashcam of Runnelss cruiser, the road rolling by, trees and sidewalks passing on both sides. Matt consoled him and told him it was OK, but also said that he needed to apologize to his mom. They stopped by the intensive care unit to thank the staff. First responders revived him, but he suffered hypoxia or oxygen deficiency to the brain. Matt was furious. Thats all it takes to support the journalism you rely on. Everything Taser told them.. Matt told him that if an officer ever stopped him, he had every right to know why he was being stopped, and whether he was under arrest. They called for scans and tests. Keeping these facts in mind, Matt thought back to his training, and Bryces case. The team members would receive their 2015 World Series rings that afternoon, so Matt and Stacy got Bryce up mid-morning. Runnels grabbedBryces cellphone, throwing it in front of the car, demanding that he get on the ground. Bryce spent the better part of 45 minutes arguing with his parents as he tried to wrap his mind around why they wanted to go to the game so early. Id never heard of excited delirium until Taser International came along.. Matt had heard that people sometimes died after a Taser shock, but chalked it up to a syndrome called excited delirium, which hed learned about in his Taser training. Timothy Runnels, 32, previously pleaded guilty. She told the Masters that Bryce had scored a three. In addition to being a police officer, Martin also trained young boxers at a local gym. Matt arrived at the hospital and went straight to the intensive care unit. My beloved, trifling older brother cooked baby potatoes and while they were still hot he threw them one at a time at Needle whod catch them, spit them out and go on to catch the next. They still didnt know how bad the damage was, but at least Bryce recognized his parents. The next eight weeks were crucial to his recovery; doctors advised the Masters that Bryce would make his most significant gains in the first couple months after his injury. You could see blood coming out of his mouth. He can recall family and friends coming in to offer their support, standing around his bed. Matt believes Runnels should have never been hired by Independence after he resigned from Kansas City. It is only fair. They hit play. Matt peppered the FBI agents with questions during that first meeting, but he didnt receive many answers. A full 23 seconds after Runnels pulled the trigger on the X26 Taser, he let it go and handcuffed Bryce. Stacy had no idea why his body was so contorted. Roughly every 30minutes that night, Bryce would forget what happened to him. He graduated from said college in 2002. When asked if he still has faith in the system, considering that Runnels is one of the rare officers to face criminal punishment for using excessive force, Matt shakes his head no. It was unacceptable the way hed talked to her. The truth is, Funnels should have been charged with attempted murder. That same month, Matt went in for his annual in-service update an hourlong training session in which officers go over updated information about how to legally deploy police tactics, including the use of Tasers. And, when they do, theres someone on the receiving end of that., When asked if he still has faith in the system, considering that Runnels is one of the rare officers to face criminal punishment for using excessive force, Matt shakes his head no. Bryce Masters received CPR after being tased by Officer Timothy Runnels (top right), Sept. 14, 2014. The recent Tasering of then 17 year-old Bryce Masters by Missouri cop Timothy Runnels has sparked outrage in the community and around the world. Who would hold party elites accountable to the values they proclaim to have? He sat on the witness stand and addressed the room, detailing what Runnels took from him. A jury found police officer Runnels used excessive force against Masters during a traffic stop. Two years? Stacy just looked on in horror. Be careful shooting fleeing suspects. He stopped the gray Pontiac because he believed the . Timothy Runnels Bryce Masters v. Timothy Runnels, No. But for another three years, Taser International training slides continued to avoid mentioning potential cardiac effects. They argue the doctrine has been a major obstacle to police accountability. During the third week of March in 2015, Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Ketchmark informed the Masters that Runnels was going to face a grand jury. The driver was then-17-year-old Bryce Masters. Hes going to prison. I knew, whenever I woke up, that I didnt feel right, he said. Matt called the FBI agents he met on Monday. Matt assumed cardiac arrest would be a prominent part of the conversation. The new officer referred to Bryce, lying there stationary. His chin was split open. You dont just get tased, Matt remembered thinking. Bryce Masters used his mobile phone to record his encounter with Officer Timothy Runnels on September 14, 2014. The conversation was still fresh in Bryces mind on September 14 when Officer Runnels pulled him over. The hearing lasted no more than 30minutes. It doesnt actlike that., Another officer arrived on scene and Runnels explained that there was a warrant on Bryces plate ostensibly the reason for the stop. The neurologist calmly explained that 15 is the best score, indicating a patient is fully aware and awake. But, deep down, she understood what Bryce was up against. He retired as a reporter in December 2022 after a 37-year journalism career. He believes that when Runnels said, All right, fine, fuck it, he was making a conscious decision to punish Bryce. At least three were sheared in half and several others badly chipped. Sentencing was not in place, but Runnels had agreed to plead guilty to one of the four charges, violating the constitutional rights of a minor. Matt sees the good in what Tasers can do, under the right circumstances. 2021) Annotate this Case Court Description: [Kelly, Author, with Colloton and Melloy, Circuit Judges] Civil Case - Civil Rights Act. Police1 is revolutionizing the way the law enforcement community Its sickening to me to listen to Taser even speak, Matt continues. (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.). He told Bryce that the officer shouldnt have gone into his pockets and the search was likely illegal. Dont give me that bullshit, he now thought. Officer Timothy Runnels was waiting to learn his fate after pleading guilty to a federal crime he committed almost two years ago, on September 14, 2014. When Masters refused to get out of his car, Runnels tried to drag him out, then drew his Taser and shot him. Tchous study was one of the first to demonstrate that a Taser shock canpotentially lead to cardiac arrest and it was financed by Taser International and completed in 2006, eight years prior to Runnels using a Taser on Bryce. He took a shot right to the heart, and that sent him into cardiac arrest.. Independence Police Department squad car. Former Independence, Mo., police officer Timothy Runnels was sentenced Wednesday to 4 years in prison for violating the constitutional rights of a minor who was in his. 71. . Bryce denied he was going anywhere near that fast. It was because they fought, or they were stressed, he remembered hearing in his training. However, the future he once imagined for himself was now likely out of reach. He took a shot right to the heart, and that sent him into cardiac arrest.. While most of the 15-minute session was spent on updated legal information, and situations in which Taser use was not advised, there was no mention of potential cardiac risks. The more they discussed the question, the more sobering it became. Bryce admits now that, given a potential lifetime of frustration, the thought crossed his mind. Police officers are not above the law and will be held accountable when they violate the civil rights of the citizens they are sworn to protect and serve.. Told ya! he said. But Taser International has latched onto the diagnosis as a way to explain many deaths that occur after someone has been shocked with a Taser. An officer may not continue to tase a person who is no longer resisting, threatening or fleeing, Circuit Judge Jane L. Kelly wrote on behalf of a three-judge panel of the court. A former Independence police officer has been sentenced to serve four years in prison after violating the rights of a 17-year-old boy during a traffic stop.Timothy Runnels used a Taser on Bryce . The 8th U.S. Finally, the Masters thought, they were going to get some closure and understand exactly what went wrong. Matt and Stacy were upset, but they believed the worst was over. OurMichael Brown Over-Policed Rights Act, crowd-sourced at Daily Kos in the fall of 2014 after the death of Michael Brown. I felt ashamed, because I didnt want to watch it. A friend at the Independence police station called Matt to tell him his son had just been arrested. As Matt and Stacy were getting ready to leave the house, Curtis called back again. Some of Bryces memories are made and erased overnight, and sometimes more frequently. As a cop, though, he couldnt escape the thought that Bryce had somehow provoked him. Weve all been duped. Independence is bigger than it seems with about 117,000 residents, the fourth-largest city in the state but still has the feel of a tight-knit, middle-class community. The fatherattributes his fellow officers brutalization of his son to lack of training. He started to see the holes in excited delirium as a catch-all for Taser-related deaths. Ending qualified immunity a doctrine established by the Supreme Court nearly 40 years ago has become a central goal of proponents of police reform in the wake of the murder of George Floyd a year ago by a Minneapolis police officer. Because youre only as good as the training.. Some of Bryces memories are made and erased overnight, and sometimes more frequently. KCUR serves the Kansas City region with breaking news and powerful storytelling. Independence Missouri Police Officer Timothy Runnels thought he had a warrant on his hands. Then one morning in August 2014, after spending the night at a friends house in Independence, Bryce walked outside and approached his car, which was parked on the street. Baristas at two Kansas City-area Starbucks locations plan to unionize. More specifically, Matt learned that on October 12, 2009, Taser International, the Scottsdale, Arizona-based maker of conducted electrical weapons, released a training bulletin suggesting that officers should avoid shooting suspects in the chest whenever possible. ), Watching the video, Stacy was astounded. Runnels seemed to ignore all this and, as the video shot by a neighbor makes clear, he put his rightfoot onto Bryces back. share. For the next 24 hours, he would be in limbo as his brain tried to heal itself. The catalyst for the crime was the 23-second Taser deployment straight into Bryces chest. "Today the jury sent a clear message to law enforcement that excessive force will . Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a $6.5 million jury verdict against former officer Timothy Runnels over the confrontation with Bryce Masters during a traffic stop in 2014, KCUR . A former Independence police officer who injured a teen driver during a 2014 traffic stop was sentenced Wednesday to four years in federal prison. The court found that the law surrounding the officers use of force was not clearly established. Mrs. Runnels was born October 28, 1937 in Bland County, Virginia to the late Cornelia (Burkhead) and Walker Pauley, and died Friday, December 6, 2019 at her residence. Being a convicted felon and losing the only career he ever aspired to was a significant punishment for Runnels, Hobbs said. He was mean, especially to his parents. And, if his future was going to be the way that they described to me if he did make it, I didnt know if I wanted him to.. Now, he sees a company with everything at stake trying to have it both ways: Tasers are safe for all sorts of encounters, but dont blame us when something goes wrong. My brother is 8 years older. Talk to a staff member. 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