Story Archive

Don’t Tase Me, Bro

An Escambia County, Fla., sheriff’s deputy has lost his job after using his Taser “without provocation” on Stephanie Byron, an apparently now-former friend. Investigators say that after getting off duty, Dep. Michael Wohlers visited Byron at work and Wohlers tased her during “horseplay.” Byron’s attorney says there was no “play” going on, but rather Wohlers “used his apparent law enforcement authority to intimidate, harass, and threaten plaintiff ... about her personal life.” The sheriff’s office says Wohlers lied about how his stun gun was used, and filed a false report about the incident. Wohlers attempted to apologize for the incident by sending Byron a text with a picture of a cake he found on the Internet decorated with the words, “Sorry I Tased You”. Despite various news reports, he didn’t actually send her a cake, but it doesn’t matter: she didn’t accept the apology, but did file a federal lawsuit against Wohlers and his department, charging excessive force and civil rights violations. (RC/Pensacola News Journal) ...You can’t have your apology and eat it too.