Officers fire Taser to stop naked man running through traffic
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PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Police officers said they had to fire Tasers and punch a naked man to subdue him during a foot chase in Southeast Portland on Thursday afternoon.
A police spokesman said 45-year-old Charles Auther Freeman was released from Portland Adventist Hospital on Thursday morning wearing only a hospital gown when he urinated in a bush then walked into a nearby business.
- Click play on the "listen" button to hear police dispatch audio from the chase
Officers tried to escort him out, but Freeman tried to fight them and ran away, according to Lt. Robert King.
King said Freeman then tried to steal an occupied van. That’s when officers fired a Taser, but it had little effect.
One of the officers hurt his leg during the ensuing foot chase. When Freeman ran towards a homeless person, officers again fired Tasers, King said.
At some point during the chase Freeman’s gown fell off.
Three officers finally caught him at 97th and SE Stark. As they tried to handcuff him, Freeman grabbed an officer’s leg and wouldn’t let go, King said.
That’s when one of the officers struck Freeman so he would let go. Freeman let go after being hit and was cuffed.
Ultimately three officers were injured during the chase and Freeman was taken back to the hospital.
Kind said Freeman also fought with Gresham Police officers on Wednesday night. Officers think he was high on meth when he bit an officer’s finger during the altercation.
He was originally taken to Portland Adventist after that fight.
There’s no word exactly what charges Freeman will face.
Click play on the "listen" button to hear police dispatch audio from the chase
Why was he released on Thursday, wearing only a hospital gown? And why was he in the hospital to begin with?
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Was he admitted without clothes? Was it a self discharge? So many questions...
Zombies!!! No mention of bystander injured by Police misfire of tazer...I Work just down the way, myself and co-workers who witnessed event were stunned atwhat played out during our lunch hour. Oh yeah, Officers who cannot change out a blown cruiser tire, probably shouldn't be patroling our streets.Â
 @Brad B Probably because there was no misfire of a taser.  Those things are usually reported if they actually happen.  And where, in any city across this country, have you heard of officers changing their own tires?  They have auto mechanics for a reason.  Someone has authority issues with police.
@pdxtvguy Huh...I don't recall you being there.  Maybe they intended to shoot the youg lady as well, I don't know. Police are enforcers in my opinion, not authorities: (see also Cuba, Socialism, Communisim). I respect the law and the people actively enforcing it, which is why I'm dissapointed to see 4 officers making small talk while tow truck operator swaps out the flat, after every other cruiser had cleared the scene. And just the other night I overheard dispach requesting an officer with a spare to bring it to another officer patrolling Skidmore Ave. so he could swap it out and continue doing his taxpayer funded job. I'm over it now that Portland Police have declared: It Gets Better!!!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bCimcsVAoQÂ
It's time folks begin to understand Excited Delerium! It's not a crime, but a medical emergency. It usually affects patients with a psychiatric history who have also been doing amphetamines. They run very hot body temps causing them to take their clothes off and sweat profusely. Between the ingested/smoked amphetamines and their own endogenous dopamine, they become supercharged delirious and extremely paranoid individuals that feel little to no pain and have super human strength. When they are confronted by the police, they dont obey commands because their delirious. The police are then forced to take them down, often requiring several officers, and multiple restraint maneuvers - often asphyxiation. The hearts of these individuals often have scar tissue from years of drug abuse and when their drugs, delirium and endogenous andrenaline kick in, their hearts stop beating suddenly as arrhythmias bounce off this scar tissue. The first step in preventing these deaths (and often injuries to police officers) is to recognize when someone is displaying symptoms of Excited Delirium. Once the police recognize this, their reaction is quite different. The goal is to take the individual down quickly. But even more important is to have EMS immediately standing by to administer heavy duty benzodiazepines. You have to sedate these individuals, cool them down, and treat what is often a large lactic acidosis and rhabdomyolysis. Excited Delirium is a medical emergency, not a crime! It's time the public safety triangle (fire-EMS-police) begin to recognize it and save everyone from these horrible consequences.
 @MDfor911 He had just been released from the hospital in only a hospital gown. I would think if he had a medical problem, the hospital should have kept him.
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The police are in no way at fault here.
 @Owt_Raged I would think they wouldn't release him if he was high on anything, so he must of went straight to a dealer before even acquiring clothes.
 @dandalion I don't want to know where he was carrying his money!
 @MDfor911 It's hard to recognize this when time is of the essence to control a situation. If there was a trained psychologist for every watch, then this might happen. But, there are many out there who have taken other drugs with current medications that have caused issues like this as well. Until the person is taken down, into custody and to the hospital, the LE are on a short timeline to get the job done.Â
@washcomom The Miami, Cincinatti, San Diego and Seattle PD depts (along with several others) have all implemented an ExDS Protocol, and drastically changed how these individuals are dealt with.
The two biggest things that can spin out of control are domestics and naked/near-naked people.
i think he streaked at a timbers game once
Why would a hospital release someone in just a hospital gown??? "Charles Auther Freeman was released from Portland Adventist Hospital on Thursday morning wearing only a hospital gown"  This in itself is a set up for a bad situation.  "we're not treating you any more! but we'll let the Portland police deal with you!" One way or another the tax payer is on the hook. Just that one way is a little more civilized, and probably works out a little cheaper in the long run.
"Thereâs no word exactly what charges Freeman will face."
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Why does a specific list of charges matter? He's probably sitting in jail right now, and will likely being there for some time.
"At some point during the chase Freemanâs gown fell off."
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At some point, the "Benny Hill Show" theme music started to play in the background...
@xilef regnu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK6TXMsvgQg