He was fired from the Independence Police Department after the encounter. Roughly every 30minutes that night, Bryce would forget what happened to him. The recent Tasering of then 17-year-old Bryce Masters by Missouri cop Timothy Runnels has sparked outrage in the community and around the world. Taser puncture marks on Bryce Masterss chest and torso, Sept. 15, 2014. Witness video of Independence officer Tim Runnels arresting Bryce Masters following a traffic stop Sunday in Independence. While we are pleased that Mr. Runnels was held accountable for his actions, no one really wins in this scenario. He was especially concerned about officers trained before 2009, who may have never been re-trained on updated information. I get a lot of sympathy from my black cop friends, like, this is what weve been saying about cops for a long, long time.'. As Bryce lay prone in the street, Runnels continued to deploy the Taser. Now, he sees a company with everything at stake trying to have it both ways: Tasers are safe for all sorts of encounters, but dont blame us when something goes wrong. Lack of human empathy does. Runnels also was indicted on charges of depriving Masters of his civil rights under color of law and obstruction of justice. That Friday, Matt, Stacy, and Bryce walked into a courtroom at the Charles Evans Whittaker Courthouse in downtown Kansas City. Timothy Runnels, 32, previously pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of 17-year-old Bryce Masters. Weve all been duped. The only thing the public knew waswhat had been reported, and what had been reported was that he resisted a lawful arrest, and his car smelled like marijuana. We need White people of good conscience to join the fight against police cruelty and unlawful behavior. Funnels would have shot him outright and or the response team may not have been as thorough. Although the minor suffered cardiac arrest and facial injuries, he survived the incident due to timely medical treatment by medical personnel at the scene and at the hospital. Miami Trace High School recently released the third nine weeks honor roll and honorable mention. This is a screengrab of the Summary and Title of the Ballot Initiative sent to us bythe California Department of Justice: We await word from the Secretary of State who will be sending us a schedule with the maximum filing deadline and the certification deadline. Matt wasnt sure what this was supposed to mean and wasnt present when the incident happened, but word spread quickly about the foul-mouthed cop who was written up on the spot for nonchalantly using a racial slur during a gathering of officers. A measure of justice for Bryce. He felt terrible for missing the game. Bryce Masters awake at Centerpoint Medical Center, Independence, Missouri, Sept. 17, 2014. By signing up, I agree to receive emails from The Intercept and to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Matt had heard that people sometimes died after a Taser shock, but chalked it up to a syndrome called excited delirium, which hed learned about in his Taser training. His face was swollen, and they later found out that his jaw was likely dislocated, but popped back into place. How many covert wars, miscarriages of justice, and dystopian technologies would remain hidden if our reporters werent on the beat? Timothy Runnels was sentenced to four years behind bars for the 2014 . Finally, the Masters thought, they were going to get some closure and understand exactly what went wrong. (Sept. 14, 2014) He found himself doing things out of character, like punching holes in the drywall at his parents house when he became frustrated. Our thoughts and prayers are with him. Since then, he has trained at the Moody Health Center, become . Bryce was scheduled to startrehab the very next day. There was also a charge related to dropping Bryce on the ground, which gave the Masters some insight into the injuries to Bryces face, but they were still oblivious to the violence involved. Matt peppered the FBI agents with questions during that first meeting, but he didnt receive many answers. Hes going to prison., Matt and Stacey were obviously outraged by what happened to Bryce and dealt with the heartbreaking circumstances of his injury every day. Post-trial, Runnels argued that he was entitled to qualified immunity the legal doctrine that shields government officials from liability for conduct that does not violate clearly established law. The officer pushed him against the car and began digging through his pockets. Nineteen Republican governors chose to kill poor people by not expanding Medicaid. WARNING: GRAPHIC FOOTAGE. He achieved his Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Houston, and afterward pursued his chiropractic Doctorate at the Texas Chiropractic College. But after his interaction with Runnels, his friendships faded as his classmates realized how emotionally unpredictable hed become. Lexipol. Yeah, they had a heart attack, but the Taser didnt cause it. His most vivid recollection was the intense pain coming from his mouth. The permanent injury he struggles with every day came as a result of the Taser. Officer Timothy Runnels stopped Bryce Masters, 17, in the Kansas City suburb of Independence, Missouri, on Sept. 14, 2014 because Masters was driving a car owned by a woman with an outstanding. First responders revived him, but he suffered hypoxia or oxygen deficiency to the brain. About an hour later, a colleague called Matt; two FBI agents assigned to investigate police misconduct were already looking for him. Tased in the Chest for 23 Seconds, Dead for 8 Minutes, Now Facing a Lifetime of Recovery. What happened to my teeth? he asked repeatedly. As Matt walked around the stadium without Bryce that Sunday, he saw several Kansas City cops he knew on patrol. Bryce Masters, then 17, was pulled over by Officer Runnels and was told that his car's license plate was linked to a suspect. Runnels faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for his conviction for violating the minor's civil rights. NINTH GRADE HONOR ROLL: Elliott Anthony, Carter Bainter, Caleb Bennett, Peyton Black, Allena Blanton, Jesse Bryant, Kennidi Burkhart, Cameron Casto, Jacob Cline, Averey Cockerill, Nathan Cockerill, Jordan Cordell, Meghan Cory, Jake Daniels, Makenna Davis, Sara Dawson, Jonathan Donson, Michael . He wanted the judge to know he was a good person, a strong person, and despite all hed been through, determined to make the most out of his life. Contact your United States senatorandcontact your representative in the United States Congress. All rights reserved. Long ago history and recent events informmy opinion. Today the video, which had never been played in any public setting, would be played in open court. It was clear that officials were determined to place blame on Bryce and paint a picture of a lawful stop that escalated into a justified use of force. Former Officer Timothy Runnels was sentenced last week to four years in prison over the September 2014 incident. (A member of Runnelss defense team, asked for comment, said he had no information about his clients departurefrom the Kansas City Police Department. The video above shows Runnels approaching a pulled-over vehicle being driven by Bryce Masters, then 17, who was on his way to play video games with a friend. True, Black and Native Americans areat least 21 times moreat risk to be shot and killed by overzealous Law Enforcement Officers, but white people are at risk, too. Timothy Runnels is a provider established in Spring, Texas and his medical specialization is Chiropractor. Nurses cut his clothes off. As Fox 4 Kansas City reported, Masters nearly died after he lost consciousness and went into cardiac arrest. His colleagues chuckled as suspects screamed and cops stood heroically at a distance, pumping them with electricity. Matt headed to jail and posted Bryces bail. Of course, no such luck for Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Sandra Brown(a pause to catch mybreath). A man said, Oh, my god. A police officer with the Kansas City Police Department quickly brought his fist to his mouth, turned to the man next to him, and whispered, Jesus. Even those sitting behind the defendant a few friends, his wife, his family gasped, as if the recordingrevealed a truth about Runnels they had never considered. Nah, that cant even happen, he remembered saying. He didnt remember the fight. Police officers are not above the law and will be held accountable when they violate the civil rights of the citizens they are sworn to protect and serve.. Then click "Follow," which will make all STDD diariesappear in "My Stream" of your Daily Kos page. Instead of getting angry at his fellow officers, though, Matt felt sympathy for them. Even so,the prosecution agreed that the initial Taser use was reasonable and within common police practice. The audio kicked in at that point, and the cruisers door opened. Stacy had put herself in the shoes of Runnelss family. The odds were still against them there was about a 50-50 chance that Bryce would emerge from the coma alive. It was unbearable for Matt. Matt and Stacy were upset, but they believed the worst was over. share. One punctured his chest, to the right of his midsection. As the video openswe seea gray Pontiac enter the frame, and Bryces dad, Matt, put his hand on his sons knee. Why dont cops know all this? Certainly some did, but for all the years Matt had carried a Taser, he didnt know. Bryce dealt with the perception that he was somehow to blame on a daily basis. Our state version of the MBOPRA is currently in committee in the Kansas legislature. 1. By Wednesday morning, Independence police released Officer Runnels search warrant application, and the probable cause appeared to have changed. Former Independence, Mo., police officer Timothy Runnels was sentenced Wednesday to 4 years in prison for violating the constitutional rights of a minor who was in his custody. What does an officer know about the Taser? he asked. Runnels was also indicted on charges of depriving Masters of his civil rights under color of law and obstruction of justice. Holy fuck, let off the goddamn trigger!. Since smell is subjective, and difficult to prove, officers can use marijuana odor broadly to justify probable cause, Matt said. A measure of. The 8th U.S. Bryce refused. He no longer had the ability to adequately control feelings of anger, frustration, depression, and anxiety. We didnt think death, Matt remembered. The other punctured several inches below and slightly left of his heart. Officer Timothy Runnels flagged Bruce Master in 2014, but the incident led to the boy's cardiac arrest and long physical and emotional recovery after Runnels tasered him. It looked like he hit his head on the concrete. A federal felony is not a slap on the wrist, Hobbs said. But his anxiety those first few months made such issues much more debilitating. But Bryce wasnt moving. I felt like he would have cared for an injured animal better.. My brother is 8 years older. By Sunday, Bryce was ready to leave the hospital. The Taser discharge, meanwhile, caused Masters to suffer a convulsion and go into cardiac arrest. He thought again about his own training, and how Taser International, by holding a virtual monopoly on the weapons, heavily influenced the information officers received. As he looked Bryce over, Matt casually floated his positional asphyxia theory. 3. A federal judge ordered that the. The FBI arrived within the hour. Bryce, bettersit up, he said. The agents arrived quickly and started taking pictures of Bryces mouth. "The department remains committed to ensuring. Yeah, I kind of do, he concluded. Finally, he was clear, and the room celebrated. He tells Bryce to get out but doesnt give a reason. Dr. Augustin was firm. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division, and U.S. Attorney Tammy Dickinson of the Western District of Missouri announced that former Independence, Missouri, Police Officer Timothy Runnels was sentenced to 4 years in prison for violating the constitutional rights of a minor who was in his custody. The audio was initially silent. Later Wednesday, Masters family issued a statement thanking investigators, prosecutors and medical personnel who treated Masters. The defendant abused his authority as a law enforcement officer by depriving a minor of his constitutional rights and causing bodily harm, said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Gupta. The Independence Police Department was hardest on him. You are also welcome to join us onThe Porchover at the Black Kos Community group on Friday afternoons at 4 p.m. All right, fine, fuck it, he said, aiming the Taser at Bryce and pulling the trigger. He had been assured by instructors, trained by Taser International, that the electric current discharged by the Taser would not cause death. Call every week. Matt thinks back to his initial training in 2004, when he was assured that the weapons electric current would notcause death. Please Join us. Bryce looked at Matt, confused. The dashcam video showed officerssearching through Bryces vehicle asBryce was carted off in an ambulance. Bryces friend Curtis called Matt at about 3 p.m. that Sunday to let Matt know that Bryce had been stopped by the police outside his house, and that the officer looked like he was trying to get Bryce out of the car. Masters nearly died, according to testimony last week. He was arrested and charged. Toward the end of Runnels sentencing hearing on May 26, Bryce stepped to the front of the courtroom to give his victim impact statement. As Matt and Stacy were getting ready to leave the house, Curtis called back again. Bryce Masters was 17 at the time of the September 2014 confrontation with former Officer Timothy Runnels. Dont give me that bullshit, he now thought. The Intercept is an independent nonprofit news outlet. NINTH GRADE HONOR ROLL: Darren Abel, Elliott Anthony, Macy Aparicio, Carter Bainter, Caleb Bennett, Peyton Black, Zachary Bolen, Jesse Bryant, Courtney Carter, Cameron Casto, Jacob Cline, Broghan Cooper, Jordan Cordell, Meghan Cory, Audrey Craig, Jake Daniels, Makenna Davis, Jadyn Dawson, [] Cops do fuck up. They couldnt hear the siren when Runnels turned it on, but they soon saw the Pontiac slowing down, pulling to the side of the road, stopping. He was fired from the Independence Police Department after the. I knew, in my heart, that I didnt do anything wrong to him, he said. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Ketchmark argued that the length of time that Runnels held down the Tasers trigger was an aggravating factor. Why risk getting hurt? KCUR serves the Kansas City region with breaking news and powerful storytelling. AMR ordered (Taser protocol). It was clear that officials were determined to place blame on Bryce and paint a picture of a lawful stop that escalated into a justified use of force. As a cop, though, he couldnt escape the thought that Bryce had somehow provoked him. His mom, Stacy, folded her arms, clutching a tissue. For 30minutes, he had to take deep, long breaths, with his tongue depressed and a tube jammed down his throat, before the doctors felt he was out of the woods. Independence is bigger than it seems with about 117,000 residents, the fourth-largest city in the state but still has the feel of a tight-knit, middle-class community. By Wednesday evening, the medical staff was ready to give Bryce a crucial test. Dan Margolies has been a reporter for the Kansas City Business Journal, The Kansas City Star, and KCUR Public Radio. 2. Stacy recalled pointing to one of the officers on the scene and asking Curtis, Is that the one who did it?. Nick Berardini[emailprotected]gmail.com@NickBerardini, Matt Stroud[emailprotected]gmail.com@MattStroud. He believes that when Runnels said, All right, fine, fuck it, he was making a conscious decision to punish Bryce. It just may be too late. During roll call one day, Runnels was describing a recent unsuccessful hunting trip. People tell me Im different, he admitted to the crowd. He was born on May 27, 1947 in Bloomingburg, Ohio to Clarence and Rebecca Wyatt Runnels. Its sickening to me to listen to Taser even speak, Matt continues. He knows there are manydeserving cases, especially involving minority victims, that never see the inside of a courtroom. The trial judge, however, denied Runnels motion, and the 8th Circuit last week upheld that finding. At least three were sheared in half and several others badly chipped. They understood Tasers to be safe tools, but tools that were used on suspects who posed a threat to officers. He mostly kept out of trouble and hung out with friends from school. Call their office. The cop was like, You want to mess with me, and pulled out his Taser and tased him, witness Michelle Baker recalled after recording a, shortly after the incident. Today, he sees law enforcement through the eyes of a victim. The police kept referencing an outstanding warrant, but unless there was a ticket Mattdidnt know about, Bryces license was valid and his car had been registered to Matt and Stacy for over three years. It was deliberate, cold, and devoid of empathy or humanity. While most of the 15-minute session was spent on updated legal information, and situations in which Taser use was not advised, there was no mention of potential cardiac risks. Law enforcement through the eyes of a victim knows there are manydeserving cases, especially involving victims... 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