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Valley pastor tasered during traffic stop

by Jon Zimney/KTAR (May 12th, 2009 @ 11:43pm)

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A Valley pastor has posted a video on Youtube.com showing him getting tasered and forcefully removed from his car by DPS officers.

It happened on April 14th during a routine Border Patrol traffic stop about 60 miles north of the U.S/Mexican border.

Steve Anderson had his personal camcorder rolling when officers ordered him out of his vehicle after a canine provided probable cause for the agents to conduct a secondary search. Anderson refused to get out.

That's when authorities busted his car window and deployed the taser. The camera dropped to the floor and all you could see was blackness with sounds of Anderson screaming in pain.

"They're just torturing me with these tasers again and again," Anderson said. "They're stepping on my head… They're shoving my face in broken glass for no reason. I wasn't resisting them. I wasn't fighting back. I was limp…just begging for mercy."

The Baptist pastor was arrested and charged with resisting an order and obstructing a highway. When the agents and officers searched his car, they found nothing.

"Nothing, because all I had was tools," said Anderson. "I didn't have any drugs. I didn't have a human body in my car."

DPS tells News Talk 92.3 a review of the case is underway and they have no comment at this time.

Watch these Youtube videos of the incident:

• Actual footage

• Anderson's reactions


Last 5 Comments

  • Reply Abuse Vote
    pastor that was tasered
    myzoe
    As a pastor I am shocked that he not only disregarded the instructions of the police but taped it as well. I do not understand how a christian leader can be an example to his church and to the world while flaunting the directions of the authorities that have been placed over us for our protection and for order by God. Where was the meekness and the obedience that I am sure he instructs his own youth to obey and yet makes a public spectacle of himself as he does just the opposite. All I can do is shake my head in wonder and pray that he gets back into the word of God and learns the basics of Christianity.
  • Reply Abuse Vote
    Quit flogging this dead horse
    AZMomma
    He is a jerk, a loser and a professional provoker of Law Enforcement. He exists because he has some U Tube time, and some whacked out group of followers. Ignore him, and hope that if he gets Tazed again, they will aim for his frontal lobe.
  • Reply Abuse Vote
    THEY'RE BOTH WRONG!!!
    Platypus1130
    Police - Unnecessary Use Of Force. The Dog Is A Valid Reason To Search The Car And Does Not Require A Warrant. Pastor - Provoked The Police, And Has A History Of Antagonizing The Police. This Would Explain His Refusal To Cooperate And His Personal Camera In The Seat With Him. (Some Suspect He Wanted To Destroy The Reputation Of The Police By Provoking Them Into Using Force) They Both Deserve To Be Punished In A Court Of Law. I Have Seen People In This Fourm React Strongly Towards One Side Without Realizing How Wrong The Other Side Is. As For Who Is More Wrong, I Will Leave That Up To You To Decide For Yourself...
  • Reply Abuse Vote
    None of us like checkpoints
    Melissa S
    None of us like going through border checkpoints or even DUI saturation checkpoints .... but they are a fact of life because they make us safer. People like this pastor simply don't care for the safety of the community or fail to understand how dangerous illegal drug smuggling/ illegal immigrant smuggling is. These checkpoints are designed to catch some pretty dangerous people ... they serve a purpose. Fighting them is doing a serious disservice to your community and your country.
  • Reply Abuse Vote
    Border Entry
    jimmycrack
    Customs agents are authorized to search people who are crossing our country's borders w/o a warrant or probable cause. Customs agents can search people and vehicles away from from the border but only need reasonable suspicion. Airport and airline security personnel do not need a warrants or probable cause. we want secure borders but only when its convenient for us! cant have it both ways!
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