Police use stun gun on woman in diabetic shock
PORTLAND, Ore. - Police used a stun gun on a Portland woman who went into diabetic shock and lost control in her home Saturday night, and now the woman is claiming officers used excessive force.
"I'm sorry if I hurt anyone, but I'm not an animal, I'm not a criminal," said a teary eyed Brandi Hess, whom police said punched and kicked a police officer and firefighter during the incident. "I felt like a criminal, like that I had done something wrong and they were coming after me."
She said her roommate called 911 and made it clear Hess was in diabetic shock and could become out of control.
A Portland police spokesman said an officer responded to the home in the 4400 block of Northeast 76th Avenue to help medical personnel with a "violent person suffering from some type of diabetic episode."
Shortly after the officer entered the home, police said Hess punched the officer without provocation. And as the officer and firefighters began struggling with the 5-foot-2-inch, 140-pound woman, she kicked the officer several times in the stomach and groin and punched a firefighter at least twice, police said.
To stop the fight, police said, the officer used the stun gun, which caused the woman to stop fighting so she could receive medical help.
Hess' roommate, Dena Hinson, witnessed the incident and admits Hess fought against the officer.
"She pushes him away, he pushes her against my fireplace, and they're struggling at the fireplace, and she knees him in the groin," Hinson said.
Then with Hess face down on the floor, Hinson said the officer used a stun gun on her roommate's leg and shoulder.
"She's shaking, and he's yelling 'I'll do it again if you don't put your arms behind your back,' " Hinson said.
She questions why it was necessary to use the stun gun when Hess was face down.
Now Hinson and Hess say they are afraid to call 911."A part of me feels like I should wait until she passes out, which puts her at medical risk," Hinson said.
"There's a part of me that's going, 'OK. Next time if I'm being violent or something, are they going to shoot me?' " Hess asked.
After reviewing a 12-page police report on the incident, the police spokesman, Sgt. Brian Schmautz, said a stun gun can be the best option in such a situation - protecting everyone from getting hurt.
Other options, such as using a control hold to keep the patient down, can lead to broken bones, he said.
"I think sometimes what people are looking for is a perfect outcome," he said. "Unfortunately, when an officer is being punched, they are being kicked by someone, and their goal in going there is to help that same person, the officer needs to do something."
Portland police said they still need more time to thoroughly review the report of what happened.
Hess' father, a former police officer with 25 years of experience, said he believes Portland police need more training on how to respond to medical emergencies.