The Florida cop who used a stun gun on a man who had gasoline spilled on him has been charged following the incident, police said.
The deputy, David Crawford, will be charged with culpable negligence, which is a misdemeanor, according to Osceola Sheriff Marcos Lopez, who noted the charge was not common.
‘Deputy Crawford was aware there was gas in the direct and immediate area. We know this because he says on the body cam, “Kill the pump! Kill the pump! Gas!”‘
‘After that statement, he picked up the discarded Taser that was located in gas, and says, “You’re about to get tased, dude.” Immediately after that statement with the Taser in his hand, the fire ignites,’ Sheriff Lopez said.
Under the law, the deputy’s actions were reckless and ‘held such a disregard for human life’ that warrants a charge of culpable negligence, he added.
‘This is obviously a tragic situation for everybody. Both Deputy Crawford and Mr. Jean Baretto are still recovering from their injuries. Our thoughts and prayers are with them, and I wish them both a speedy recovery,’ Sheriff Lopez said.
Baretto, 26, was injured when the electric charge from the stun gun ignited an explosion at the gas station while deputies attempted to arrest him.
Attorney Mark Nejame said: ‘
They said he was on his way home from a biker gathering that police had broken up and was stopped at a Wawa gas station.
Officers say that Barreto was driving recklessly with a group of motorists on bikes. Initial reports said that several motorcyclists were ‘pointing guns at people’ earlier in the day.
Barreto also faces charges from the incident, which include fleeing in an attempt to elude law enforcement, reckless driving (misdemeanor), ‘three wheelies’ offense and resisting an officer without violence.
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