There has been a lot of talk about this story,

Mainly because of the joke involved in some of the titles.

“Unarmed amputee Tasered twice”

Well I guess if he was armed, he won’t have a leg to stand on

Published online on Monday, Sep. 21, 2009

By Victor A. Patton / Merced Sun-star

MERCED — The Merced Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division is investigating a complaint alleging that an officer twice used a Taser against an unarmed man with no legs in a wheelchair.

Gregory Williams, 40, a double-leg amputee, spent six days in jail on suspicion of domestic violence and resisting arrest after the Sept. 11 incident. Merced County District Attorney Larry Morse II said there wasn’t enough evidence to file charges, however.

Williams, who was released from jail Friday, said he was violently manhandled and Tasered by police, even though he claims he never was physically aggressive toward the officers or resisted arrest.

Williams says he was publicly humiliated after his pants fell down during the incident. The officers allegedly left him outdoors in daylight, handcuffed on the pavement, nude below the waist. Williams said the arrest also left him with an injured shoulder, limiting his mobility in his wheelchair.

A handful of residents who live in Williams’ apartment complex say they witnessed the incident and support Williams’ charges. A short video clip, shot by a neighbour, shows Williams sitting on the pavement with his pants down, his hands cuffed behind his back.

LISA JAMES / MERCED SUN-STAR

Greg Williams, a double amputee who was Tasered by Merced police offers on Sept. 11, recounts the incident at Williams’ apartment, where the encounter occurred.

Eddie Blaylock, a 38-year-old resident of the apartment complex, said he took notice after seeing "two cops trying to handcuff a guy in a wheelchair."

After seeing an officer pull out his Taser, Blaylock said he yelled, "Hey, you can’t do that!" One of the officers threatened to Taser Blaylock if he "didn’t step back," he said. Blaylock said he never saw Williams resist arrest or become violent.

Williams’ ex-brother-in-law, William Decker, who also witnessed the arrest, filed a complaint with the Police Department three days later.

The Merced Police Department’s spokesman confirmed that an investigation is under way but declined to discuss details.

Both officers involved in the arrest remain on duty.

In a police report obtained by the Merced Sun-Star, the officers say they tried to reason with Williams before the arrest, to no avail.

The officers wrote that Williams was uncooperative and refused to turn over his 2-year-old daughter to Merced County Child Protective Services, among other allegations.

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