According to court records, Runnels had his Taser deployed for about 20 seconds during the incident — the equivalent of four discharges of the nonlethal weapon. Runnels was a career .291 hitter (1854-for-6373) with 49 home runs, 630 RBI, 876 runs, 282 doubles, 64 triples, 37 stolen bases, and a .375 on-base percentage in 1799 games. Official websites use .gov Masters […] He pleaded guilty in September 2015 to violating the civil rights of a minor in custody after a federal grand jury returned a multi-count indictment. Masters was 17 in … The DOJ then took the case before a federal grand jury last year and the panel indicted Runnels on counts of excessive force and obstruction of justice, over allegations that he'd made a false report and provided false statements to investigators. Case No. "But I did.". During a sentencing hearing before Senior U.S. District Court Judge Dean Whipple of the Western District of Missouri, the government provided evidence that Runnels deployed his taser into the minor’s chest during a traffic stop and then caused the electric current to run for approximately 20 seconds, four times longer than officers are trained to deploy a taser.  Evidence at the hearing revealed that as a result of the tasing, the minor went into cardiac arrest and became unresponsive.  Dash camera video of the incident depicts Runnels handcuffing the minor after the taser deployment and then picking him up.  The video and other evidence presented at the sentencing demonstrates that Runnels then deliberately dropped the handcuffed victim face-first into the pavement.  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. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Former Independence cop Timothy Runnels pleaded guilty and was sentenced last week to four years in prison for violating the constitutional rights of Bryce Masters in 2014. WASHINGTON – According to a release from Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and U.S. Attorney Tammy Dickinson of the Western District of Missouri, a former Independence, Missouri, Police Officer Timothy Runnels was sentenced to 4 years in prison for violating the constitutional … The officer's actions during the arrest caused the teen to suffer brain damage. Missouri Officer Timothy Runnels pulled Masters over in September 2014 after he was incorrectly told the teenager's license plate was linked to a wanted suspect. — 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. Warning: Some may find this video disturbing. “The defendant abused his authority as a law enforcement officer by depriving a minor of his constitutional rights and causing bodily harm,” said DOJ Civil Rights Division acting deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta in a statement last week when Runnels was sentenced. Police dashcam video unsealed Monday by a federal judge in Missouri shows a deeply disturbing encounter between a former Missouri cop who, during a routine traffic stop, tasered, dragged and callously dropped a teenage driver face first onto the pavement. Join Facebook to connect with Timothy Runnels and others you may know. Runnels … Related stories from Kansas City Star crime Runnels was released by Houston early in the 1964 season. Timothy Runnels, 32, previously pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of 17-year-old Bryce Masters. Runnels was sentenced last week … Timothy Runnels was sentenced to 4 years behind bars for the incident that put teen Bryce Masters in a coma. The video was released after a federal judge unsealed the video and other exhibits from Runnels' trial. “People tell me I’m different,” Masters said. The video of the Sept. 14, 2014, arrest shows then-Officer Timothy N. Runnels using a stun gun on Bryce for more than 20 seconds before dropping the handcuffed teen onto the pavement. A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Runnels is scheduled to be released in 2020, with two more years of supervised release. Timothy Runnels faces federal charges after using Taser on Bryce Masters. Today is National Voter Registration Day! Even so, the prosecution agreed that the initial Taser use was reasonable and … This case was investigated by the FBI’s Kansas City Division and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Shan Patel of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and First Assistant U.S. Attorney David Ketchmark of the Western District of Missouri. ", “At no point did I intend to hurt him," Runnels said. Last week we heard about former Independence, MO, police officer Timothy Runnels being sentenced to four years in a federal prison. Masters is heard refusing multiple orders to exit his vehicle. During a hearing last month, Masters described how the brain damage he suffered continues to affect his sleep and memory. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. In 2011, the Police Executive Research Forum, a nonprofit ­policy and research organization, partnered with the Justice Department to craft new guidelines on their use. 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. 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. Docket for United States v. Runnels, 4:15-cr-00106 — Brought to you by the RECAP Initiative and Free Law Project, a non-profit dedicated to creating high quality open legal information. There were no charges against Runnels for his stun gun use -- although it was the effects of the Taser that caused Masters to go into cardiac arrest, depriving his brain of oxygen for up to eight minutes and resulting in brain damage, The Intercept reported.  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.”. According to the police, Masters refused to cooperate with Officer Reynolds and resisted arrest. All rights reserved. View the profiles of people named Timothy Runnels. An official website of the United States government. 15-00106-01-CR-W-DW PLEA AGREEMENT Pursuant to Rule 11(c)(1)(B) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the parties described below have entered into the following plea agreement: 1. A tweet from the department later that night, at 7:28 p.m., read , “Carstop on Southside for warrant … We made it easy for you to exercise your right to vote! A former Independence, Missouri, police officer, Timothy Runnels, now faces four years in jail. The teen then lies facedown on the ground, where Runnels eventually places him in handcuffs. Runnels’s name wasn’t initially released. Later Runnels said that he also smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle as part of his justification for placing Masters under arrest. On the afternoon of September 14, 2014, Officer Timothy Runnels pulled over 17-year-old Bryce Masters because his license plate matched a plate wanted for a traffic warrant. A federal judge on Monday released the police dashcam video that shows former Independence Police Officer Timothy N. Runnels using excessive force in arresting then-17-year-old Bryce Masters. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Ketchmark argued that the length of time that Officer Timothy Runnels held down the Taser’s trigger was an aggravating factor. INDEPENDENCE, Mo. Feds Release Sickening Video Of Cop Tasering Innocent Teen, Leaving Him Brain Damaged. A federal judge recently released video of Officer Timothy Runnels using a Taser on 17-year-old Bryce Masters into cardiac arrest. As Masters slowly slumps out of the driver's seat, Runnels grabs the teen's cellphone -- which he was using to record the incident -- and flings it away. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Department’s 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 … "I haven't done anything, officer," Masters says as Runnels attempts to forcibly remove the teen from his car. With his hands cuffed behind his back and unable to break his fall, Masters lands on the pavement with a horrifying thud. “Officers must be trained to understand that repeated applications and continuous cycling of ECWs may increase the risk of death or serious injury and should be avoided,” the report reads. Their report specifically cautions against discharging stun guns for extended periods of time. The Parties. Runnels, who remains free on bond, must surrender to federal prison by August. I’ve missed job interviews because I forgot them.”, Runnels apologized to Masters' family during that same hearing, saying he was "deeply remorseful. In September, Runnels pleaded guilty to violating Masters' rights, and last week, a federal judge sentenced him to four years in prison. The dangers of electronic control weapons, like Tasers and other stun guns, have been widely studied by law enforcement oversight groups. Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost? Former Officer Timothy Runnels was sentenced last week to four years in prison over the September 2014 incident. He was selected an All-Star in … Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Runnels had pled guilty to violating the civil rights of 17-year-old Bryce Masters during a traffic stop in 2014. I get in the car to go somewhere and then I’ll forget where I was going. One pull on the trigger sent electricity shooting out for five seconds; Officer Timothy Runnels had held it down the equivalent of four pulls. Runnels, 35, is scheduled to be released from custody in January 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. Tap here to turn on desktop notifications to get the news sent straight to you. TIMOTHY RUNNELS, Defendant. A federal judge on Monday released the police dashcam video that shows former Independence Police Officer Timothy N. Runnels using excessive force in arresting then-17-year-old Bryce Masters. Here’s how. But contradicting witness and police accounts of the incident surfaced and the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice launched investigations into the case. Video released on Monday, June 6, 2016 shows a new view of the moment a police officer used a taser on a teenager. The US District Attorney’s Office released dashcam video footage of the incident that sent Bryce Masters into cardiac arrest during a September 2014 traffic stop. During an arrest on Sept. 14, 2014, Runnels used a stun gun on Masters after a traffic stop and then dropped the handcuffed teen onto the pavement. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Department’s 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 35-year-old is scheduled to be released from prison in January 2020. KANSAS CITY, MO — Video released on Monday shows a new view of the moment a police officer used a taser on a teenager. “I feel different. Shortly after the incident took place, Independence Police Maj. Paul Thurman said the officer’s use of his stun gun was within department policy. Former Officer Timothy Runnels was sentenced last week to four years in prison over the September 2014 incident. Police originally said that Runnels stopped the car because he believed the license plate was linked to an outstanding arrest warrant. Runnels then drags Masters' limp body to the side of the road, where he drops Masters face first onto the ground. Sign up for membership to become a founding member and help shape HuffPost's next chapter. — Video released on Monday shows a new view of the moment a police officer used a taser on a teenager. The Kansas City Star reports the jury returned the verdict Friday in a lawsuit filed by Bryce Masters against the former officer, 35-year-old Timothy Runnels. Judge Whipple issued the sentence, which will be followed by two years of supervised release.Â, “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.  “While the majority of law enforcement safeguards our communities with fidelity, the department will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute officers who violate their oath by using excessive force.”, “This former police officer was trained and entrusted to enforce the law impartially,” said U.S. Attorney Dickinson.  “His use of excessive force violated both the public’s trust and his oath to uphold the law. Instead, feds argued that it was Runnels' deliberate drop of the teen while he was restrained and not posing a threat to others that violated his constitutional rights. Eventually, Runnels says, “F**k it,” and discharges his stun gun on Masters, striking the teen near his heart. Part of HuffPost Politics. Masters' parents argued that neither their son, nor their car, which was properly registered to the parents, had any warrants connected to them. Runnels tells Masters he’s under arrest, but doesn't explain why. which he was using to record the incident, license plate was linked to an outstanding arrest warrant, contradicting witness and police accounts, pleaded guilty to violating Masters' rights, said DOJ Civil Rights Division acting deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta. As part of his guilty plea, Runnels admitted that while he was employed as an officer of the Independence Police Department, he deprived the minor of his civil rights by deliberately dropping the minor face first onto the ground while the minor was restrained and not posing a threat to Runnels or others.  According to the court filings, Runnels also admitted that his actions resulted in bodily injury to the minor. “While the majority of law enforcement safeguards our communities with fidelity, the department will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute officers who violate their oath by using excessive force.”. ©2021 Verizon Media. The former officer now faces four years in prison for violating the teen's constitutional rights. 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