Deputy Subdues Runaway Autistic Teen With Taser Stun Gun

TUSTIN, Calif. (AP) _ Sheriff's officials defended their use of a Taser stun gun to subdue an autistic teenager who left a social services center where he was being treated. <br/><br/>``It was necessary,''

Thursday, September 20th 2007, 7:06 am

By: News On 6

TUSTIN, Calif. (AP) _ Sheriff's officials defended their use of a Taser stun gun to subdue an autistic teenager who left a social services center where he was being treated.

``It was necessary,'' sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino said in defense of the use of a Taser stun gun to subdue 15-year-old Taylor Karras.

He said the teen is lucky to be alive.

``If that were your son, would you want him Tased or hit by a car?'' Amormino asked.

The teenager bolted from a social services center in Westminster on Monday and had walked 15 miles when sheriff's deputies received a call of someone running in and out of traffic on busy Newport Avenue. Sheriff's Lt. Larry Jones said a deputy fired the Taser after a second car had to swerve.

The teen was home with his parents Tuesday, uninjured and no were charges filed. But his parents said they believed deputies overreacted.

``They should have been on alert that there was a missing autistic teenager in the area,'' William Karras said.

Taser use by police drew national attention his week after video surfaced on the Internet of police shocking a university student in Florida who persistently questioned Sen. John Kerry during a forum and refused to yield the microphone to others. The incident generated a fierce debate about free speech, use of force and the motives of the student, a known prankster.

University of Florida President Bernie Machen said the use of the Taser, with the student yelling, ``Don't Tase me, bro!'' was ``regretful.'' He requested a state probe of campus police actions and placed two officers on leave.

Taser stun guns fire electrically charged darts that carry 50,000 volts for several seconds, temporarily immobilizing their targets. According to Taser International Inc., about 11,000 U.S. law enforcement agencies use Taser technology.