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Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Danielle Maudsley Left Brain Dead After Being Tasered By FHP Trooper

Impact: The moment Danielle Maudsley, 20, was Tasered by Trooper Daniel Cole after she tried to escape the police station.

PINELLAS PARK — One day last September, Danielle Maudsley, clad in handcuffs, bolted out the door of a Florida Highway Patrol substation after she had been arrested in a hit-and-run case.

A dashboard video camera in a patrol cruiser in the parking lot captured Trooper Daniel Cole chasing her. Cole was only a few feet behind her when he pulled out his Taser and fired its electric probes into her back.

Maudsley spun, fell backward and smacked her head on the asphalt parking lot. She lay there, bleeding and crying as Cole stood over her. Then she went unconscious.

Those details were part of a report released Thursday by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles that cleared Cole of wrongdoing in the incident. An investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement also cleared him.

The report shed new light on the Sept. 19 incident, which left Maudsley, 20, in a vegetative state, said her mother, Cheryl Maudsley.

"Tell me that's not excessive force," Cheryl Maudsley said. "I'm not saying she was an angel, but she didn't deserve that. He couldn't reach out and grab her? He was an arm's length away."

Cole had arrested Danielle Maudsley after she was suspected of leaving the scene of two traffic crashes. She had a suspended license and blood tests later showed she had cocaine and oxycodone in her system, the report states.

While she sat in the back of his cruiser, Maudsley removed her right hand from the handcuffs, the report said. When Cole opened the door to take her out, she told him, "I took this off."

Maudsley was placed back in handcuffs and Cole took her into the substation, according to the report. As he worked on paperwork in a conference room, he sensed that Maudsley was moving, turned, and saw her at the main exit. He asked where she was going and got up from his seat before she ran out the door.

In an interview with investigators, Cole said he saw Maudsley turning in the direction of U.S. 19 after she exited the substation.

"If she makes it there, you know, there's no winning," the report quoted him saying. "I can't let her get out and get run over," he later said.

Cole, who at 267 pounds weighs about three times as much as Maudsley, was concerned that one or both of them would be injured if he tackled her. So he went for his Taser.

He could not warn Maudsley because of the immediacy of the situation, the report said. After Maudsley fell, Cole saw blood on the ground and summoned emergency personnel.

Asked if he would have done anything differently, Cole said, "No, I would not have."

The report ruled that Cole's actions were justified.

FHP policy says troopers can use Tasers on escaping suspects. It also says they should avoid using them on people who are handcuffed — though it allows exceptions to that provision.

Cheryl Maudsley said her daughter lives in an intensive care facility and is fed with a tube. "My daughter is dead because of this. She won't come back."

Maudsley said she is pursuing legal action against the FHP.

Her attorney, Kevin Hayslett, said the nature of the injuries merits compensation.

"When you've got injuries like this, you're dealing with big numbers," Hayslett said, noting that Maudsley's medical bills have risen to seven figures.

"Law enforcement have to make split-second decisions," Hayslett said. "Unfortunately, sometimes those decisions result in catastrophic consequences. But the more serious the injury a person suffers, the more safeguards have to be put in place to prevent that from happening in the future."



24 comments:

  1. 2 hit and runs and coke in her system? sounds like she was brain dead already

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  2. I have to appreciate the fact that someone can have such a pathetic, meaningless comment to add in the face of such abuse of power. I guess you don't have any kids, or compassion for those who make stupid mistakes when they're young.

    Seriously, I hope the mother takes the FHP to the cleaners. Maybe the fat ass police officer could learn to run a little faster and lend a helping hand as opposed to being a lazy piece of lard and further demoralizing the troubled girl.

    Hard to believe he could have the balls to call her stupid.

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  3. She was handcuffed and tried to run ... that very large policewoman was close enough to grab her instead of Tazer her. But then that might have meant she might have had to exert herself.. this is terrible. The girl might have been a loser ( at the time) but she was alive and could have changed and been a worthwhile person .. now that has been taken from her but a lazy stupid police person.

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    1. Totally agree 78852!!!!

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    2. pretty sure it was a guy rather than a "policewoman"...considering his name was daniel. next time read the article!

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  4. Yet another example of a taser being used as a first resort rather than last. Taser was invented as a replacement for deadly force, not as a general tool for controlling suspects. Lazy policing, and shocking levels of complacency in those departments clearing the officer.

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  5. Glad that coked up skank is brain dead. Had it been a guy, this story wouldn’t have made the news. The cop was doing his job. I don’t know why anyone takes the risk of being a cop. Wake up girls. Life has changed.

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    1. Man or woman, Cole should have grabbed her first and tasered last! Physics here explain why he was wrong! Cole's life was not in danger!!! He could have grabbed her and not tasered her when she was handcuffed like that!!! Cops are supposed to uphold the law and not act like criminals themselves!! It's simple physics here... her momentum coupled with the excessive taser force pounded her head into the ground. All the officer needed to do was grab her!!! Yes she was a drug abuser... she needed help not to be murdered! Cole murdered her by using the taser like that! She could have gotten help Brian! Police officers are not supposed to play Dr. Kevorkian!!! Yes, he was trying to do his job but he messed up -- plain and simple!!!!

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  6. Don't call the cops when some coked up loser runs over your kid, or hits your car or robs a gas station. I hate cops but at least I'm reasonable when it comes to recognizing that this girl hit her head. She chose coke and oxycodone and driving and resisting and fleeing---no surprise that she got hurt. You wouldn't call this cop fat if he was protecting you from some coked up guy twice your size.

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    1. He could have grabbed her and not tasered her when she was handcuffed like that!!! Cops are supposed to uphold the law and not act like criminals themselves!! It's simple physics here... her momentum coupled with the excessive taser force pounded her head into the ground. All the officer needed to do was grab her!!! Yes she was a drug abuser... she needed help not to be murdered! Cole murdered her by using the taser like that!

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  7. Maybe he just put her out of her misery.

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    1. Here's what I wrote the Governor, and MANY troopers in the FHP:

      Governor Scott, FHP Executive Director Jones, Deputy Director Conklin, Chiefs Brown, Carrick, Guzman and Knight, Colonel Brierton, Major Thomas and Advisory Council,

      I just finished watching Trooper Cole be so overwhelmed by the fleeing, handcuffed, 100-pound Danielle Maudsley that he had to taze her.

      http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=187_1329389516

      Let me preface my comments by saying that I am a Tazer supporter. Rather than an officer have to fight with another man his size and risk injury to himself, if the perp doesn't obey the officer's command, I think he forfeits his right to civility. This was not the case.

      Several times I've listened to her head hit the cement like a falling watermelon and then listened to her lay there and whimper. Now she's braindead. It's heartbreaking.

      It's unbelievable that a man that size chose to tazer her on a hard surface rather pursue and grab her, unless of course he was too overweight to catch her. Looks like to me he was RIGHT BEHIND HER. What a poor reflection on the rest of the level-headed, hard working Troopers in the FHP. Now the taxpayers of Florida will have to pay for her care 24/7 and whatever penalty the courts decide.

      And why am I not surprised to read, "The Florida Department of Law Enforcement determined Trooper Daniel Cole's 'use of force' was justified. You've just demonstrated to the public once more what the "Brotherhood" is all about.


      I'll tell you one thing. IF THAT HAD BEEN MY DAUGHTER OR WIFE, I'D TAKE A SLEDGEHAMMER TO THE BACK OF TROOPER COLE'S HEAD and see how he fared.

      Name and address withheld here but not on the original e-mail.

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    2. Totally agree with the governor letter reply!!!!

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  8. Here's what I wrote the Governor, and MANY troopers in the FHP:

    Governor Scott, FHP Executive Director Jones, Deputy Director Conklin, Chiefs Brown, Carrick, Guzman and Knight, Colonel Brierton, Major Thomas and Advisory Council,

    I just finished watching Trooper Cole be so overwhelmed by the fleeing, handcuffed, 100-pound Danielle Maudsley that he had to taze her.

    http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=187_1329389516

    Let me preface my comments by saying that I am a Tazer supporter. Rather than an officer have to fight with another man his size and risk injury to himself, if the perp doesn't obey the officer's command, I think he forfeits his right to civility. This was not the case.

    Several times I've listened to her head hit the cement like a falling watermelon and then listened to her lay there and whimper. Now she's braindead. It's heartbreaking.

    It's unbelievable that a man that size chose to tazer her on a hard surface rather pursue and grab her, unless of course he was too overweight to catch her. Looks like to me he was RIGHT BEHIND HER. What a poor reflection on the rest of the level-headed, hard working Troopers in the FHP. Now the taxpayers of Florida will have to pay for her care 24/7 and whatever penalty the courts decide.

    And why am I not surprised to read, "The Florida Department of Law Enforcement determined Trooper Daniel Cole's 'use of force' was justified. You've just demonstrated to the public once more what the "Brotherhood" is all about.


    I'll tell you one thing. IF THAT HAD BEEN MY DAUGHTER OR WIFE, I'D TAKE A SLEDGEHAMMER TO THE BACK OF TROOPER COLE'S HEAD and see how he fared.

    Name and address withheld here but not on the original e-mail.

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  9. The police officer went too far here and acted like a gangster!!! The girl didn't deserve this because the policeman used excessive force!!! I totally agree with Anonymous with what he wrote the Governor!!! Many police officers like Cole in Florida have turned into gangsters!!! Cole deserves to be handcuffed himself and tazered like this girl with his head slamming the ground!!! Tazers should be the last resort!!! Unfortunately there are more officers like Cole as I have been beaten myself by law enforcement!!! My head was too slammed into the ground while handcuffed... I only suffered a concussion and lived, so its okay... and I was only tasered while restrained to a hospital bed for the cop's delight.. but that's okay too!!! And in case you are wondering, I was arrested for leaving my son in the car for two minutes in front of a hospital emergency room attempting to get emergency treatment... I almost died but because I didn't, it is okay and the charges will probably stick!!! The police go too far and take everything personally. Many male police act like bullies especially to young women!!! I'd like to see Cole take his fat ass in a MMA fight for charity to see how he fares!! He can brutalize a young woman to show that he is tough, right? How disgusting!!! If this was a celebrity or the sheriff's daughter, Cole would have gotten punished... otherwise the brotherhood stays together!! I hope that the mom sues the hell out of the police and gets some kind of retribution!!! And as for Cole, man up and at least apologize!!!

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  10. if she didn't get drugged up, steal her 40 yr old boyfriends car to speed around town with no license, she wouldn't have gotten into 2 accidents and arrested,and wouldn't have a police station to run from. Officers go through extensive training to make sure they can keep up with subjects that decide to flee. His inability isn't an issue. If she didn't beak the law multiple times this day, there would be no case. Your child breaks the law and you think you can defend her? What the hell is wrong with you people? I know it's your child but she could have killed several other people this day. Not to mention running towards US 19....if she caused an accident she would probablyflee that,too.

    She didn't have much of a brain to begin with.

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    1. Guess we need to have the cops kill all the people who get speeding tickets by your logic..... I mean, speeding could have killed several people that day. Oh, and while you are at it, kill people who do insufficient stops, that also could kill people. Also, why not kill people who jaywalk. They could cause a car to swerve and kill a truckload of special needs children on the way to a church picnic.

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  11. Isnt escape a felony?

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  12. This is sad story. Thanks for the details.

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  13. Ok, she was in there on coke for hit and run. She is at an POLICE SUB STATION. That lazy ass could have broken a sweat. Hell, he could have even tried to walk faster and that would have done the trick. How about this - Let her run. She is handcuffed, where is she going to go? Felony or no felony, in the US we hold trials and let the courts decide a persons fate. We don't kill them because we are fat and lazy. Well, after seeing the video, I guess we do. Do I think she should have gone to jail? Probably. Do I think she should have been killed? NO.

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  14. It seems to me that this girl had a tragic accident after a series of very poor lifestyle choices and even poorer decisions while hopped up on dope. Officers have to think quickly and while you all may complain that he made a poor decision, and did not show enough compassion... the fact is that it isn't every day that a handcuffed girl runs out the front door of the sub-station. In the split seconds it takes to make a decision and act on it there is little room for second thoughts. A cop and his family dedicate their lives to trying to help the community be a safer place and when the community members turn on them over things like this, it makes their job harder. I don't think it is fair that the community expects no one but the cops to ever get injured, hurt, or killed. That is just my opinion.

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  15. First, the law enforcement in this nation has taken a drastic turn for the worse. NAZI GESTAPO wannabes. Drugs or no drugs, she was a human being and that alone merits respect. Otherwise we're no better than animals we keep as pets. Though I do believe most authority figures today are less than animal. Most aren't even that high on the food chain. Cole and Gaskins are two prime examples of that. Thomas Jefferson believed the American people had a duty, a responsibility to rise up against government and authority of this nature.

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  16. I just posted my comment (AnonymousJuly 11,2012 4:09 PM) and I should have mentioned that I understand all too well what officers are required to do in both thinking and acting. I served 18 years in uniform with gun and badge, so DON'T give me any of that "Oh, police have it so bad" BS! We were required to mthink and act quickily, BUT we also required to think and act CORRECTLY! And I can say without doubt that things like this NEVER happened on my watch. Speaking both personally and from a former professional position, this man has NO business in this business. In my day you had to show and prove the proper psychological profile which he does not posses. He can only say for himself in his own defense that he acted appropriately, but he DOESN'T state any regret or remorse. Even as a former peace officer I believe this man should be held fully and duly accountable. For you NAZI GESTAPO lovers......Find another FASCIST regime to move to because this one is about to be shut down!

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