portland independent media center  
images audio video
newswire article reporting global

human & civil rights | neighborhood news

Taser settlement

Olga Rybak awarded a settlement after tasing in Washougal.
Olga Rybak was awarded over $2 million for wrongful tasing in Washougal, Washington. Apparently her dog had bitten a police officer and when she was asked to sign a paper regarding the incident, she tried to explain that she did not understand English and did not know what she was signing. The officer then grabbed her and tased her in her back and stomach. I just heard about the settlement on corp media (KATU) a few minutes ago.

More information 31.Mar.2006 17:16

Olwen

I found a little more information regarding the original incident on this page  http://educate-yourself.org/cn/taserstorturepolice22dec04.shtml


"In 2003, Russian immigrant Olga Rybak, 5 feet 4 was approached in her home by Washougal [Washington] police officer intent on issuing a ticket for dog violation. Olga, with limited English, did the smart thing that any halfway reputable lawyer would advise, and asked for a translation before signing anything. She thought she was in the Land of the Free. The Washougal Police Sergeant responded by arresting her, without developing communications to explain the citation. Maybe Olga flashed back to the good old days under the GRU. She was TASED. A lot. The Sergeant who used the TASER was a TASER Training Officer for the Washougal police department. He neglected to include in his report that he shocked her at least 12 times in 91 seconds, reportedly stopped and reloaded the TASER with fresh cartridges and shot her again. He then allegedly threatened to shoot the Olga's 11 and 12 year old sons if they interfered. Subsequent analysis of the TASER's memory chip confirmed Olga's allegations (they are encrypted "to protect the integrity of the data.")

In 2004, Washougal's police chief, Robert D Garwood, reported that the officer had been demoted for using "poor judgment" in the case even though he had acted "within proper legal boundaries"

Case of Criminal Extortion 31.Mar.2006 19:07

sometime

This was obviously a case of criminal extortion by a civil servent to obtain illegally a signature. There are undoubtly a lot of legal holes in the officers conduct. Now that the civil case has been won, he should be investigated for criminal misuse of authority.

Read with sarcastic tone 01.Apr.2006 20:43

guffaw

Man, am I glad he acted "within proper legal boundaries." I don't know what we'd do if an officer ever EXCEDED legal boundaries. My God, we'd be in REAL trouble then ;-)

Thank God for Good Ol' USA 05.Oct.2006 03:27

A Nation of Laws

Conduct like this by an armed police officer in Clark County Washington was considered outrageous, made the news, resulted in compensation to the victim, an 800 page internal investigation, removal of the officer, and finally replacement of the police chief. What I hear from my Russian friends is, even with these kinds of tragedies "this sure beats Russia".

Thank God for Good Ol' USA 05.Oct.2006 03:38

A Nation of Laws

Conduct like this by an armed police officer in Clark County Washington was considered outrageous, made the news, resulted in compensation to the victim, an 800 page internal investigation, removal of the officer, and finally replacement of the police chief. What I hear from my Russian friends is, even with these kinds of tragedies "this sure beats Russia".