University Police are conducting an investigation to determine if officers responded appropriately in the arrest of a 21-year-old man on Tuesday, said Jack Beresford, assistant vice president for San Diego State marketing and communications.
Joshua Gandy, who is not an SDSU student, was skateboarding at approximately 11 a.m. on Tuesday near Campanile Mall when an officer approached him and asked him to stop, Beresford said.
Gandy refused to get off his skateboard and started to get combative with the officer, University Police Lt. Robert McManus said.
A second officer was reportedly called to assist, but the individual continued to struggle.
"It became a physical confrontation with the officers," McManus said. "That officer had been out there for a period of time telling people they couldn't skateboard on campus. (Those skaters) went on their way, but this individual started to use expletives right away and became combative."
Officers told Gandy he would be tased if he continued resisting arrest.
McManus said Gandy continued to be uncooperative, at which point one of the officers used a Taser gun to "dry stun" him - hold the gun directly up to his body while tasing him.
"The media has said that he was tasered because of skateboarding," McManus said. "That's not the case. It was because of his combative behavior."
Gandy reportedly refused to roll over on his back and was tased a second time, Beresford said.
Gandy stopped struggling and was placed in police custody.
"It's fairly rare for officers to use this type of non-lethal force," Beresford said.
More than 7,000 U.S. law enforcement agencies use Taser guns as part of their arsenal, according to Amnesty International. However, there is a growing concern among students and peace organizations regarding the safety of these weapons.
In the United States, more than 150 people have died after being struck by Tasers since June 2001, with 61 deaths in 2005 alone, according to Amnesty International.
"The whole purpose behind the Tasers is to prevent injuries," McManus said. "When there's a physical altercation while an officer is on his job, there's always a risk of violent injuries to the officer and the person involved.
"It's a tool that, if the situation presents itself, I have to stop the situation from escalating to the point where I have to use a handgun."
University Police have used Taser guns for the past four and a half years, McManus said. Law enforcement has added Taser guns to the weaponry on their belts - batons and firearms.
"If someone was running from me and had just committed a crime, I would feel justified to use a Taser," McManus said. "But if someone said something inappropriate to me and kept walking, that would never be justified."
A video of the incident was posted on YouTube, a popular video-sharing Web site.
"We feel the video that's out there gives an incomplete and distorted view of the incident because it shows the final seconds of an altercation that lasted several minutes," Beresford said.
He said University Police officers undergo extensive training on the use of forces and the use of the Taser device. Both officers involved in the incident have years of experience responding to these situations, Beresford said.
Learning how to use a Taser gun is part of the police academy's eight-hour training, McManus said. If officers do not receive training at the academy, they receive training from University Police, he said.
Gandy reportedly admitted that he knew why he was detained and apologized to officers for his actions, according to the university's press release regarding the incident.
Gandy received a misdemeanor citation for skateboarding and will have to appear in court. McManus said the fine for skateboarding on campus is approximately $120.
Gandy was not injured and was released.
"What's important to note is that none of this would have occurred if he had complied with officers," Beresford said. "Officers work hard to actively enforce campus regulations, which are all in place for the safety of all students on campus."
-Assistant City Editor Stephanie Nehmens contributed to this report.
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