Police mull why Taser would not stop man

8/26/2006

Police are reviewing the arrest of an East Toledo man Thursday to determine why officers were unable to subdue him with Tasers.

Following a short struggle with officers, Jesus Benavidez, 39, of 1725 Nevada St., announced he was giving up - but only after being shot at least twice with the officers' Tasers, a device that sends an electric jolt and is meant to temporarily override the nervous system.

Mr. Benavidez is listed on various police records as weighing between 320 and 500 pounds. But his size, in itself, would not overpower the electric signal, said police Lt. Mark King, a master instructor on the devices.

Other variables may come into play: clothing, the distance at which the suspect is shocked, or what part of the suspect's body is hit, Sgt King said.

"Nothing in our belts are 100 percent guaranteed to work every time," he said.

Police received a call about 10 p.m. about a suicidal man threatening to kill a Fremont Street resident. He had an axe and a gun and told a witness he "would not be taken alive by police," according to police.

Crews confronted Mr. Benavidez as he pulled onto Fremont. He began to flee, eventually jumping from his vehicle and running onto a Norwalk Street porch. There, officers tackled him as he threw punches.

One officer shot Mr. Benavidez with Taser probes that send an electric shock, but Mr. Benavidez appeared unfazed, so an officer tried again - pressing the Taser against Mr. Benavidez and firing, police said.

"After injuring two officers while on the ground, [Mr. Benavidez] announced he was done and giving up," according to a police report. In his car, crews seized a machete knife, an axe, and a baseball bat, police said.

Mr. Benavidez, who was treated at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, was charged with two counts of felonious assault and ordered held at the Lucas County jail in lieu of a $100,000 bond.