Guard tasers man holding newborn baby !

anabolicrhino · 08-15-2007, 09:02 AM

HOUSTON (AP) - In a confrontation captured on videotape, a hospital security guard fired a stun gun to stop a defiant father from taking home his newborn baby, sending both man and child crashing to the floor. Now the man says the baby girl suffers from head trauma because she was dropped.

"I've got to wonder what kind of moron would Tase an adult holding a baby," said George Kirkham, a former police officer and criminologist at the University of California-Berkeley. "It doesn't take rocket science to realize the baby is going to fall."

The trouble began in April when Williams Lewis, 30, said he and his wife felt mistreated by staff at the Woman's Hospital of Texas so they decided to leave. Hospital employees told him doctors would not allow it, but Lewis picked up the baby and strode to a bank of elevators.

The elevators would not move because wristband sensors on each baby shut off the elevators if anyone takes an infant without permission.

Lewis, who gave the video to The Associated Press, said his daughter landed on her head, but it cannot be seen on the video. He said the baby seems injured since the episode.

"She shakes a lot and cries a lot," Lewis said, noting doctors have performed several MRIs on the child, Karla. "She's not real responsive. Something is definitely wrong with my daughter."

It was not clear whether the baby received any electrical jolt.

Child Protective Services has custody of the baby because of a history of domestic violence between Lewis and his wife, Jacqueline Gray. Agency spokeswoman Estella Olguin said the infant seems in good health.

The hospital and the Houston Police Department did not immediately respond to calls seeking comment.

David Boling, an off-duty Houston police officer working security at the hospital, and another security guard can be seen on the surveillance video arriving at the elevators and trying to talk with Lewis. Lewis appears agitated as he walks around the elevators holding his daughter in his right arm.

video of news report

**bioman** · 08-15-2007, 02:20 PM

Ohhh, there'd be a serious security guard smackdown if one did that to me and my daughter.

Fortunately, he would already be IN the hospital so that'd be taken care of.

DefTek · 08-15-2007, 03:50 PM

Unless one of the electrodes struck the child there would be no electical discharge into her. A dry stun would have been a better choice all things considered - that and a tad bit better verbal judo... It's hard to say tho what anyone would / should do unless you're actualy there making that split second decision in the heat of the moment - not sitting at your computer sipping coffee trying to come up with a witty reply.

"David Boling, an off-duty Houston police officer working security at the hospital, and another security guard can be seen on the surveillance video arriving at the elevators and trying to talk with Lewis. Lewis appears agitated as he walks around the elevators holding his daughter in his right arm. "

Dont know about anyone else but this is a cops worst nightmare - how do you protect the child / public / suspect /and yourself without hurting anyone... you cant. Had the father complied and allowed the incident to de-escelate then this article would not have even been written. If anything - the parents are the most responsible and should be speaking to a judge in reference to child endangerment issues... but that wont happen because the hospital and now the Houston PD (and probably the individual officers) have deep pockets from which a tasty lawsuit can be filed against.

(not directed at any posters just a general observation)

anabolicrhino · 08-15-2007, 04:34 PM

Cops have a difficult job, if you watch the video the suspect looks like a maniac, but something about taser and baby in the same sentence makes you wince.

I thought it was interesting that the babies ID bracelet disables the hospitals elevators, so that babies cannot be taken without permission, that's a great use of technology

jomi822 · 08-15-2007, 04:50 PM

thats probably a situation you try to diffuse before escalating

DefTek · 08-15-2007, 06:50 PM

Very much in agreement with you both - but sometimes verbal judo turns into real judo and this happens. It is very telling of the state we exist in that we have and need such security measures as the bracelet and "less" lethal options. Twenty years ago the only option was a big stick or your wheel gun...

**Jayhawkk** · 08-17-2007, 03:41 PM

If the threat to the baby was percieved to the point that they were trying to take the baby from that guy then you are left with few options and none of them are risk free. If you approach the guy, he could use his anger on the baby. If you taser him, then you risk him dropping the baby in a manner to cause harm. If you do nothing you risk him hurting/killing the baby and others.

It really comes down to experience, perception of the event and options to deal with that situation. You can always second guess something but it's a different world when you are the one making that decision and you have to make it now.

zbtboy · 08-17-2007, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayhawkk

If the threat to the baby was percieved to the point that they were trying to take the baby from that guy then you are left with few options and none of them are risk free. If you approach the guy, he could use his anger on the baby. If you taser him, then you risk him dropping the baby in a manner to cause harm. If you do nothing you risk him hurting/killing the baby and others.

It really comes down to experience, perception of the event and options to deal with that situation. You can always second guess something but it's a different world when you are the one making that decision and you have to make it now.

Very well said!

jomi822 · 08-17-2007, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayhawkk

If the threat to the baby was percieved to the point that they were trying to take the baby from that guy then you are left with few options and none of them are risk free. If you approach the guy, he could use his anger on the baby. If you taser him, then you risk him dropping the baby in a manner to cause harm. If you do nothing you risk him hurting/killing the baby and others.

It really comes down to experience, perception of the event and options to deal with that situation. You can always second guess something but it's a different world when you are the one making that decision and you have to make it now.

id tend to agree but in this situation it seems he was angry at the hospital staff and the percieved threat was to his child....which he was protecting.

if you thought hospital staff was mistreating your baby and or wife what would you do? not busting you chops jay just playing devils advocate. taken to a certain point, i probably would have done the same thing as this guy. there are hospitals where i live that i wouldnt want my wife or child anywhere near.

i wouldnt take a very agressive approach with the man, his intentions for the baby seemed more towards safety than harm. the man wasnt going to take his own baby home to harm it. just letting the man leave the hospital would have been an option on the table if i were that security guard.

EasyEJL · 08-17-2007, 04:52 PM

Yes but if he thought the hospital was full of space aliens trying to suck out his childs brains he'd have the same motive, and no more right. This guy had "a history of domestic violence between Lewis and his wife", so if the guards wouldn't have stopped him and he left the premises with the baby, they'd just be getting a different flavor of having a new ass hole ripped by the liberal media.

Bottom line, the guy should have been sterilized after the first domestic violence incident, then this wouldn't have happened as she wouldnt be pregnant

warbird01 · 08-17-2007, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayhawkk

If the threat to the baby was percieved to the point that they were trying to take the baby from that guy then you are left with few options and none of them are risk free. If you approach the guy, he could use his anger on the baby. If you taser him, then you risk him dropping the baby in a manner to cause harm. If you do nothing you risk him hurting/killing the baby and others.

It really comes down to experience, perception of the event and options to deal with that situation. You can always second guess something but it's a different world when you are the one making that decision and you have to make it now.

wait why would he use his anger on the baby? I thought it was his

EasyEJL · 08-17-2007, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warbird01

wait why would he use his anger on the baby? I thought it was his

Why did he previously beat his wife? she was his too

**Jayhawkk** · 08-17-2007, 06:27 PM

People in those types of situations are usually in them because of their inability to have a rational thought process. I really couldn't answer why, nor could I answer why a lady microwaved her newborn but it happened. You can play devil's advocate and you may be right. I'm only stating that unless you're there, then what may seem to be an obvious choice may not really be.

CryingEmo · 08-17-2007, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayhawkk

If the threat to the baby was percieved to the point that they were trying to take the baby from that guy then you are left with few options and none of them are risk free. If you approach the guy, he could use his anger on the baby. If you taser him, then you risk him dropping the baby in a manner to cause harm. If you do nothing you risk him hurting/killing the baby and others.

It really comes down to experience, perception of the event and options to deal with that situation. You can always second guess something but it's a different world when you are the one making that decision and you have to make it now.

That makes alot of sense.

**bioman** · 08-18-2007, 04:03 PM

I see your points and there's no telling what this guy's mindset really was without being there...but for me it boils down to having the ability to leave a hospital when you choose to. I've had words with hospital staff more than once in the last year so from my side of the fence...there's some real idiots working in hospitals who shouldn't have the power to determine whether I or my loved ones HAVE to stay or not.

This guy was probably crazy or belligerent but I was putting myself in that situation and can see how things could go very bad, very quickly.

**Jayhawkk** · 08-18-2007, 04:55 PM

I understand and could see something getting out of hand on the part of the hospital but as a father, I can't let the safety of my children get tossed aside, just because i'm pissed. If I was holding my newborn and being directed by police to do something, then i'd do it. Just for the well being of my child.