Disabled man tasered by Transit Police officers

BEAVERTON, Ore. - 72-year-old Billie McKenzie is still in disbelief. She's shocked that two officers - one a Beaverton Police officer and the other from Portland - working for Portland's Transit Police, would use a taser on her disabled grandson, Jamal Green.

Green, 34, is disabled, with serious cognitive impairments. His lawyer says it is hard for Green to understand and follow orders.

According to McKenzie, her grandson was attempting to get home using the public transit system. He initially got on a bus that wasn't operating, but when the police officers first approached Green they instructed him to show his hands. According to a Portland Police spokesperson, Green didn't comply with the request and instead kept them tucked up in his sleeves.

The police report indicates that the first officer warned Green he would use a tazer, then did so. Then the other officer, who deemed the first tasering ineffective, tasered Green a second time.

Green says that he didn't understand the commands as he was confused why the officers wanted to see his hands. He was eventually taken to jail then later released.

He faces charges of interferring with a police officer and interferring with public transportation.

But Green's grandmother is also upset that the officers confiscated his seizure medicine. The police report confirms that they officers initially thought it was ecstacy and at first attempted to charge Green with posession of a controlled substance.

When contacted by KATU, the Portland Police Bureau said that their officer followed training and that once Green became agitated, they had no choice but to use the tasers.