Taser Response to Oregon Diabetic Under Review

SUMMARY: A doctor who treats diabetics says police should have better ways to subdue a patient in medical distress

Diabetics who experience a sharp drop in blood sugar can become confused and at times combative, as Portland police and firefighters found Saturday night.

But is a Taser the best way to subdue them for treatment?

Police say an officer had no choice but to stun a Northeast Portland woman after she punched emergency responders and repeatedly kicked an officer in the stomach and groin. The officer was acting in response to a paramedic's concerns that the woman needed immediate medical attention. If officers hadn't acted, police say, they'd likely be held liable for not helping her get treatment.

Officer Michael Hastings, who used the Taser against the woman, said in his report that he did so to restrain her as fast as possible and that he was concerned for the safety of fire and medical personnel.

But some experts and diabetics say there should be ways to handle the situation without resorting to an electric shock.

"We all would have preferred if there was a way they could have subdued her without using Tasing," said Dr. Andrew Ahmann, director of the Diabetes Center at OHSU Hospital. "I never heard of a case quite like this before."

When a diabetic's blood-sugar level has dropped severely, the patient can get confused and lash out, Ahmann said. The person can experience a seizure and lose consciousness. Family members are often instructed to try to restrain the person in order to give an injection of glucagon, a hormone.

"It's something we see not too infrequently. It's the kind of thing that law enforcement should be better equipped to deal with," Ahmann said. "Certainly, in the majority of cases, one would be able to restrain a person at least to give them an injection."

The woman involved in Saturday night's incident, Brandi Hess, her father, Dan Hess, and her roommate complained that police used excessive force. Dan Hess, a former police chief in Dundee, told police that three or four officers have managed to hold his daughter down when she experienced a similar episode in the past.

Police Chief Rosie Sizer briefed Mayor Tom Potter on the incident during their regular Monday meeting. The mayor seemed satisfied with police response. "We've asked for the report. We're going to review it. At the moment, we don't see any red flags," said John Doussard, Potter's spokesman.

Sizer told the mayor the bureau would flag the address so dispatchers would send at least three officers to the woman's home to make sure she could be treated safely.

The Police Bureau recently revised its policy to prohibit the use of the Taser against children under 12, pregnant women, people older than 60, or people known to be "medically fragile," except if the person is armed with a weapon, suicidal or can't be controlled with other force options.

Firefighters said they've been dispatched to the home six times in the past two years but could not describe what occurred on those calls.

At 9:52 p.m. Saturday, Portland firefighters were sent to 26-year-old Brandi Hess' home on Northeast 76th Avenue after her roommate called 9-1-1 for medical help. Dispatchers told firefighters Hess was conscious, diabetic and getting violent.

Firefighters arrived at 9:55 p.m.; an ambulance arrived two minutes later. A fire medic went inside, got punched in the face twice and went back out, realizing he needed help, Fire Lt. Allen Oswalt said. Hess' blood-sugar level was 40, Oswalt said. The normal range is 80 to 120.

When Portland Officer Hastings arrived, Hess was sitting in the middle of her living room, her legs crossed and arms folded, rocking back and forth. Her roommate was seated in front of her, telling her to "calm down and relax," according to his report released Monday.

Hastings said he approached her from behind and asked, "Ma'am, how can I help you?" He said he barely got the question out when she jumped up, turned toward him and punched him in the chest. He said he pushed her back into a mantel above the fireplace to try to restrain her. He said Hess slapped him in the face, screaming, yelling and grunting.

Hastings grabbed her left arm and shoulder, and took her to the ground, using what he called a modified "arm-bar" takedown. Lying on her right side, she was punching, kicking and "flailing around like a cornered wild animal," Hastings wrote in his report. He said Hess was kicking him in the stomach, groin and thigh, as about four firefighters and medical personnel tried to grab her arms and legs to restrain her. Firefighters separated Hess from the officer, and Hastings stood up to fire his Taser.

From about 2 feet away, Hastings said, he fired his Taser probes into her left shoulder, unable to give her a warning because he believed Hess was an "immediate threat" to everyone. He moved the stun gun to Hess' right thigh because the distance between where the probes hit was too narrow to be effective.

She stopped resisting and medical personnel gave her sugar via an intravenous tube, fire and police officials said.

Some diabetics, such as Sandy resident Irma Hickey, 72, said they understand the action police took.

Hickey is a diabetic and her nephew, also a diabetic, lives with her. A week ago, she said, his blood-sugar level plummeted, and he lashed out at her. "He got combative with me. I had to call a neighbor to help me because I couldn't handle him," Hickey said. The neighbor helped her force him onto a bed and they force-fed him orange juice, she said.

"Our next step was 9-1-1," Hickey said.

Reporter Ryan Frank contributed to this report.

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